Parliament Question: Financial Assistance for Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2546 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16th DECEMBER, 2025 Financial Assistance for Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh 2546. Dr. C M Ramesh: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state: (a) the details of ongoing and new financial assistance schemes for fishermen in Andhra Pradesh during the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, including those implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fishing Ban Relief Programme; (b) whether the Government has enhanced the rate of assistance per fisherman during the ban period in view of rising cost of living and fuel; (c) the number of beneficiaries covered under each such scheme in Andhra Pradesh, district-wise; and (d) whether any new proposals received from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for additional relief or insurance support are under consideration of the Union Government? ANSWER MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a): The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), has approved the proposals submitted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for implementation of 39 activities (32 beneficiary oriented activities and seven non-beneficiary oriented activities) at a total cost of Rs.2398.72 crore, with a central share of Rs.559.10 crore for development of fisheries and aquaculture in the State and Rs.482.55 crore released during 2020-21 to 2024-25. The approved activities under the PMMSY to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, including livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward, active traditional fishers’ families during the fishing ban/lean period, are furnished at Annexure-I. These activities are continued to be implemented during 2024–25 and 2025–26. (b) and (c): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has extended financial assistance (Government assistance - Rs.3000.00 and beneficiary contribution – Rs.1500.00) to 1,23,000 fishermen annually during the fishing ban/lean period under PMMSY. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has reported that the fishing ban relief programme in the State was implemented as “Matsyakarulasevalo” in 2025–26, dovetailed with the livelihood and nutritional support activities under PMMSY. Vide G.O.Ms. No. 12 dated 25 April 2025; the Government of Andhra Pradesh has enhanced the rate of assistance per fisherman during the ban period in view of rising fuel costs and the overall cost of living. The assistance has been increased to ₹20,000 per family, covering all eligible sea‑going fishermen. As reported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the district‑wise number of beneficiaries covered under livelihood and nutritional support activities during the fishing ban period is provided in Annexure II. (d): No such proposal received from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for additional relief or insurance support. *****Annexure-I Statement referred to in reply of part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2546 regarding Financial Assistance for Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh for answer on 16th December, 2025-Activities approved to Government of Andhra Pradesh under PMMSY during the last five years. (Rupees in Lakh) Physical Project Cost Central S. N Name of the Activity Unit unit Share (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) 1 Freshwater Finfish Hatcheries Number 5.00 125.00 36.00 2 Brackish water Hatcheries Number 10.00 500.00 150.00 Construction of Biofloc ponds for freshwater 3 Hectare area 47.00 658.00 186.48 Construction of Biofloc ponds for Brackish 4 Hectare water area 50.00 900.00 265.68 Stocking of Fingerlings in Reservoirs 5 Hectare @1000FL/ha 1914.00 5742.00 1641.00 6 Establishment of Open Sea cages Number 800.00 4000.00 1084.80 7 Seaweed culture rafts including inputs Number 26000.00 390.00 115.20 Establishment of Seaweed culture with 8 Number Monoline/tube net Method including inputs 41200.00 3296.00 902.40 Bivalve cultivation (mussels, clams, pearl 9 etc.) 50.00 10.00 3.00 Establishment of large RAS (with 8 tanks of 10 Number minimum 90 m3/tank capacity 40 ton/crop) 34.00 1700.00 480.00 Establishment of Medium RAS (with 6 tanks 11 Number of minimum 30m3/tank capacity 10 ton/crop) 10.00 250.00 72.00 12 Establishment of Backyard mini-RAS units Number 20.00 10.00 3.12 13 Installation of Cages in Reservoirs Number 300.00 900.00 254.16 Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (10 14 Number tons/day) 10.00 400.00 115.20 Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (20 15 Number tons/day) 1.00 80.00 19.20 Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (30 16 Number tons/day) 1.00 120.00 43.20 Construction of Cold Storages/Ice Plants (50 17 Number tons/day) 4.00 600.00 162.00 18 Insulated vehicles Number 200.00 4000.00 1152.00 19 Live fish vending Centres Number 245.00 4900.00 1408.80 20 Motor cycle with Ice Box Number 800.00 600.00 172.80 Three-wheeler with Ice Box including e- 21 Number rickshaws for fish vending 400.00 1200.00 345.60 22 Fish Feed Plants (Large) Number 5.00 1450.00 450.00 Fish retail markets including ornamental 23 Number fish/aquarium markets. 150.00 12000.00 3288.00 Fish kiosks including kiosks of 24 Number aquarium/ornamental fish 4615.00 14263.75 3992.73 25 Fish Value Add Enterprises Units Number 25.00 1250.00 360.00 E-platform for e-trading and e-marketing of 26 Number fish and fisheries products 1.00 100.00 24.00Physical Project Cost Central S. N Name of the Activity Unit unit Share (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Support for acquisition of Deep-Sea fishing 27 Number vessels for traditional fishermen 50.00 6000.00 1526.40 Establishment of Bio-toilets in mechanised 28 Number fishing vessels 1300.00 650.00 159.60 29 Disease diagnostic and quality testing labs Number 2.00 50.00 15.00 Disease diagnostic and quality testing 30 Number Mobile labs/clinics 8.00 280.00 79.80 Communication and /or Tracking Devices 31 for traditional and motorised vessels like Number VHF/DAT/NAVIC/Transponders etc. 10000.00 3500.00 892.08 Providing boats (replacement) and nets for 32 Number traditional fishermen 2191.00 10955.00 2659.20 Livelihood and nutritional support for socio- economically backward, active traditional 33 Number fishers’ families for conservation of fisheries resources during fishing ban/lean period. 123000.00 19922.4 6640.80 34 Establishment of Brood Banks Number 1.00 500.00 300.00 35 Integrated Aqua Parks Number 1.00 8808.00 5285.00 36 Development of fishing harbours Number 3.00 113720.00 12000.00 37 Modern Integrated Fish Landing Centres Number 6.00 12691.32 7614.79 Establishment of artificial reefs along the 38 Number coast of Karnataka 22.00 770.00 462.00 39 Multipurpose Support Services – SagarMitra Number 600.00 2581.20 1548.72 Total 239872.67 55910.76 ****Annexure-II Statement referred to in reply of part (b) and (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2546 regarding Financial Assistance for Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh for answer on 16th December, 2025 - district- wise number of beneficiaries covered under Livelihood and nutritional support activities during fishing ban period. Sl. No of Beneficiaries for District No. the year 2025-26 1 Anakapalli 12048 2 Bapatla 11535 3 Konaseema 10586 4 Kakinada 23598 5 Krishna 12352 6 Prakasam 5118 7 Nellore 11449 8 Srikakulam 14517 9 Tirupathi 3808 10 Visakhapatnam 11162 11 Vizianagaram 3547 12 West Godavari 1713 Grand Total 121433 ****