**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 354 in Lok Sabha concerning fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, to be answered on December 2, 2025. It details the current status, investments, and measures taken by the Indian government to develop and modernize fisheries and aquaculture in Tamil Nadu. The response also discusses plans to strengthen infrastructure, credit access, and sustainable fishing practices.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Infrastructure Development and Modernization:**
* Approvals granted for 116 fishing harbours and fish landing centres at ₹9,558.91 crore.
* Modernization linked to expansion of nationwide logistics and market infrastructure.
* Current infrastructure includes 532 pre-processing units, 230 handling centers, 683 processing plants, 6,410 kiosks, 202 retail markets, and 21 wholesale markets.
* Cumulative investment of ₹3,254 crore over the past five years in modernizing fish handling and distribution.
* Existing infrastructure in Tamil Nadu: 15 fishing harbours, 148 fish landing centres, 243 Ice Plants, 38 Cold Storages, and 60 processing units.
* **Production Enhancement:**
* Support for over 75,000 modern production units (biofloc, RAS, raceways, cage culture systems).
* Nearly 34,000 hectares of additional area brought under aquaculture.
* **Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF):**
* 132 proposals worth ₹5,794.09 crore approved, including 22 fishing harbours and 24 landing centres.
* The Fund extended to FY 2025–26 with a Credit Guarantee mechanism covering 25% of investment for private entities and cooperatives.
* **Broodstock and Hatcheries:**
* Establishment of a network of 31 brood banks and 1,453 hatcheries.
* Initiatives for genetic improvement of commercially important species.
* **Fisheries Cluster Development Programme:**
* Promoting integrated production and processing clusters (pearls, ornamental fish, tuna, seaweed).
* Eleven integrated Aqua Parks with an investment of ₹682.6 crore being grounded.
* Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu with an investment of ₹127.71 crore to support seaweed processing and farming.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Rs.1094.8 crore has been sanctioned for 62 projects approved in Tamil Nadu during last five years (2020-2025), and Rs. 797.23 crore has already been released to the state government of Tamil Nadu.
* **Support for Small-Scale Fishermen:**
* Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility.
* Development of fisheries infrastructure (harbours, landing centres, aqua parks, markets, processing units, cold storages).
* Skill and capacity development trainings.
* **Sustainable Fishing Practices:**
* Implementation of mesh-size regulation, no fishing zone, gear restriction, and bans on destructive fishing methods.
* Promotion of deep-sea fishing with eco-friendly gears.
* Motorisation of country crafts.
* Stocking fish seeds in Panchayat tanks and providing fish seeds and fishing implements to fish farmers.
* Establishment of Fish Markets and assistance for Fish Kiosk, insulated and refrigerated vehicle, live fish vending units.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Small-scale and Artisanal Fishermen in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Improved access to modern infrastructure, credit, and technical support, including Kisan Credit Cards.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the available resources and training programs to enhance their fishing practices and market access.
**Stakeholder: Tamil Nadu State Government**
* **Impact:** Receiving funds and support from the central government to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Continue submitting proposals for schemes and programs to the central government for further development of the sector.
**Stakeholder: Fish Farmers and Aquaculture Businesses**
* **Impact:** Access to modern production units, financial assistance through FIDF, and improved market access.
* **Action Required:** Participate in available schemes and programs to enhance production and adopt sustainable practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: Indian state, focus of fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure development
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Central ministry responsible for policies related to fisheries and aquaculture
Department of Fisheries: Department under the central ministry, implementing schemes for fisheries development
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): Scheme funding infrastructure projects, mentioned in the context of Tamil Nadu
Kisan Credit Card (KCC): Financial instrument extended to fishermen for working capital
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 354
TO BE ANSWERED ON 2nd DECEMBER, 2025
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu
354. 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 including the number of
harbours, landing centres, cold storage facilities and processing units especially in Tamil Nadu;
(b) the funds allocated, released and utilized for the development of fisheries and
aquaculture infrastructure in 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 by the Government 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 has any 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
MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a): The development and modernisation of infrastructure has been accorded high priority under
the schemes implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. Approvals
have been granted for 116 fishing harbours and fish landing centres at a cost of ₹9,558.91 crore.
This modernization is linked to the expansion of nationwide logistics and market infrastructure.
India’s fisheries value chain currently includes 532 pre-processing units, 230 handling centers,
683 processing plants, 6,410 kiosks, 202 retail markets, and 21 wholesale markets. Collectively,
these facilities have modernized fish handling and distribution, supported by a cumulative
investment of ₹3,254 crore over the past five years.
To enhance production and productivity, over 75,000 modern production units such as biofloc,
RAS, raceways, and cage culture systems have been supported, and nearly 34,000 hectares
of additional area brought under aquaculture. Under FIDF, 132 proposals worth ₹5,794.09 crore
have been approved, including 22 fishing harbours and 24 landing centres. The Fund has been
extended till FY 2025–26 and strengthened through a Credit Guarantee mechanism covering
25% of investment for private entities and cooperatives. To strengthen brood stock and seed
availability, a robust network of 31 brood banks and 1,453 hatcheries is being established, while
initiatives for genetic improvement of commercially important species, including scampi, trout,
pearl spot and shrimp, are underway. The Fisheries Cluster Development Programme is
promoting integrated production and processing clusters in areas such as pearls, ornamental
fish, tuna and seaweed. Eleven integrated Aqua Parks with an investment of ₹682.6 crore, along
with a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu with an investment of ₹127.71 crore, are
being grounded to support seaweed processing and its farming.Currently, there are 15 number of Fishing harbours, 148 Fish landing centres, 243 Ice Plants,
38 Cold Storages and 60 processing units have been established as part of fisheries and
aquaculture infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.
(b): Towards development of fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure of 62 projects approved in
Tamil Nadu during last five years (2020-2025), a sum of fund of Rs.1094.8 crore has been
sanctioned, and Rs. 797.23 crore has already been released to the state government of Tamil
Nadu.
(c): The Government of India has taken several steps to facilitate access to modern
infrastructure, credit, and technical support to the small-scale and artisanal fishermen in remote
and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu such as extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to small-
scale and artisanal fishermen to meet their working capital requirements, development of
fisheries infrastructure such as fishing harbours, fish landing centres, aqua parks, fish markets,
processing units, cold storages, etc. Besides, skill and capacity development trainings are also
provided to the fishermen in addition to technical support extended by the experts and scientists
from various R&D institutions.
(d): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has taken several steps to promote
sustainable fishing practices, increasing fish production, and improving market access for fish
and aquaculture products in Tamil Nadu such as installation of Artificial reefs along Tamil Nadu
coast, implementation of mesh-size regulation under state MFR Act, no fishing zone, gear
restriction, ban on destruction fishing methods etc., Besides, diversification of trawling into
deep-sea fishing using eco-friendly selective fishing gears like gill net, long line and motorisation
of country crafts have been promoted in the Marine Fisheries. In addition, advance fingerlings
were stocked in major rivers of Tamil Nadu, Stocking of fish seeds in Panchayat tanks and
providing fish seeds and fishing implements to fish farmers, establishment of Fish Markets and
assistance for Fish Kiosk, insulated and refrigerated vehicle, live fish vending units, two / three
wheeler with ice box are supported to facilitate market access and increase in fish production
in Tamil Nadu.
(e): The Government of India has supported the State Government of Tamil Nadu through
various schemes and programs to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure based on
the proposals received from the State Government from time to time. Highest numbers of
fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure projects have been approved and sanctioned under the
FIDF to the State Government of Tamil Nadu.
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