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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1580
ANSWERED ON 28/07/2026
DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
TAMIL NADU
1580. Shri Tharaniventhan M S:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to
state:
(a) the current status of fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure in the country including the
number of harbours, landing centers, cold storage facilities and processing units in the country
including Tamil Nadu;
(b) the funds allocated, released and utilized by the Government for the development of
fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure including Arani Constituency of Tamil Nadu during the
last five years;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that small-scale and artisanal fishermen in
remote and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu have access to modern infrastructure, credit and
technical support;
(d) the measures being implemented to promote sustainable fishing practices, increase fish
production and improve market access for fish and aquaculture products in Tamil Nadu; and
(e) whether the Government plans to introduce any reforms, expansions or new schemes to
further strengthen fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a): The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure facilities in the country includes 76 fishing
harbours, 231 fish landing centres, 670 processing units, 641 pre-processing units, 739 cold
storages, 51 chilled storages, 82 dry fish storages and 47 other fish storage facilities. These
infrastructure includes 15 fishing harbours, 44 fish landing centres in Tamil Nadu and further as
per information received from MPEDA, 63 processing units, 54 pre-processing units, 67 cold
storages, 15 chilled storages, 6 dry fish storages and 9 other fish storage facilities are located in
Tamil Nadu.(b): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
with effect from financial year 2020-21 has been implementing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
Yojana (PMMSY) in all the States/UTs including Tamil Nadu for the holistic development of
fisheries sector. The development of fisheries infrastructure facilities is one of the important area
envisaged and are supported under the PMMSY. In addition, the Department of Fisheries,
Government of India with effect from financial year 2018-19 is also implementing Fisheries and
Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) to create and strengthen fisheries and
aquaculture infrastructure in the country. Under FIDF, the Department of Fisheries, Government
of India provided interest-subvention upto 3% on the loan availed by Eligible Entities including
States/UTs for development of fisheries and aquaculture development facilities.
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last five years has accorded
approvals to the fisheries development projects of Government of Tamil Nadu at a total cost of
Rs 1,166.37 crore with Central share of Rs 452.39 crore. Against this approved amount of
Rs.208.38 crore as central share has been released to the State Government under PMMSY. In
addition, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last five years has also
approved fisheries infrastructure projects at a total cost of Rs 1059.67 crore under FIDF in the
State of Tamil Nadu. The Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that no projects relating to
fishing harbour infrastructure, fish landing centres, cold storage facilities, or fish processing units
have been undertaken in the Arani Assembly Constituency during the last five years.
(c) & (d): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has taken up several measures
for the benefits of fishers and fish farmers in the country including Tamil Nadu for facilitating
seamless access to modern infrastructure facilities, institutional credit, promotion of sustainable
fishing practises and improving market access including the key activities as mentioned below:
(i) Support to the State Governments and other entities under ongoing Schemes of
PMMSY and FIDF for creation of need based fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure
facilities
(ii) Issuance of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers and fish farmers for their working
capital requirements
(iii) Advising the State Governments from time to time for strict implementation of the
provisions of Marine Fishing Regulation Act (MFRA) for regulation of fishing
activities including mesh-size regulations.
(iv) Implementation of 61 days uniform ban on fishing in the Indian EEZ annually,(v) Ban on destructive fishing practices in the Indian EEZ viz. paired bottom trawling or
bull trawling and use of artificial and LED lights in fishing,
(vi) Declaration of marine protected areas (MPAs) and protection of endangered,
threatened and protected (ETP) species,
(vii) Installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets, fishing gear and
minimum legal size (MLS) of fishes, spatial-temporal restrictions, zonation of fishing
areas by the coastal States/UTs,
(viii) Installation of artificial reefs and Fish Aggregating Devices.
(ix) Support for alternative livelihood activities such as mariculture, cage culture, seaweed
cultivation, ornamental fisheries, crab farming, pearl farming, bivalve cultivation etc.
(x) Providing livelihood and nutritional support to fishers during the fishing ban period.
(xi) Group Accidental Insurance scheme to fishers.
(xii) Providing safety and communication devices, installation of transponders, to ensure
safety and security of fishers while fishing at sea.
(xiii) Support for acquisition of fishing boats and nets, deep sea- fishing vessels.
(xiv) Training, skilling, capacity building to fishers and fish farmers.
(xv) Notification of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules and High Sea guidelines to
facilitate marine fishers for sustainable harnessing of untapped fisheries resources for
their economic prosperity.
(xvi) Stock enhancement programmes like sea ranching.
(xvii) Development of fishermen villages as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages.
(e) Since the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and
Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) scheme are already applicable to all
States/Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, the question of introducing a separate scheme
exclusively for Tamil Nadu does not arise.
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