Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying addresses initiatives for the holistic development of the fisheries sector, including in Karnataka. It details steps taken to improve the fisheries sector in Karnataka, enhance fish production, strengthen the value chain, generate employment, ensure safety and security, and ensure resource sustainability. The response also outlines financial assistance provided to the Government of Karnataka for fisheries development over the last five years.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Government Initiatives:**
* A separate Department of Fisheries was created in February 2019, followed by a new Ministry in June 2019.
* The Government of India has approved schemes with total investments of Rs 38,572 crore since 2015.
* Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility extended to fishers and fish farmers from FY 2018-19.
* **Schemes and Funds:**
* Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries (FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20) with Rs 5000 crore investment.
* Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) implemented from FY 2018-19 with a fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore.
* Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented from FY 2020-21 with an estimated investment of Rs 20,050 crore.
* Central Sector Sub-scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PMMKSSY) under PMMSY with an investment of Rs 6000 crore.
* **Karnataka Specific Initiatives:**
* Fisheries development projects worth Rs.1058.98 crore approved for Karnataka under PMMSY.
* Activities include hatcheries, aquaculture expansion, Biofloc Ponds, Deep Sea Fishing Vessels, and stocking of fingerlings.
* Post-harvest infrastructure includes modernization of fishing harbors, ice plants, retail markets, and transportation facilities.
* Communication devices, safety kits, livelihood support, and insurance coverage approved for Karnataka.
* 14,933 KCC cards issued to fishers and fish farmers in Karnataka.
* **Financial Assistance to Karnataka (Rs. in lakhs):**
| Year | Project Cost allocated | Central funds released | Central funds utilized |
| ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | ----------- |
| 2020-21 | 16423.94 | 5033.40 | 6235.30 |
| 2021-22 | 23095.59 | 7136.14 | 9884.43 |
| 2022-23 | 38459.64 | 13054.31 | 6608.00 |
| 2023-24 | 23204.89 | 9775.83 | 2981.36 |
| 2024-25 | 4714.09 | 1614.25 | 3793.06 |
| **Total** | **105898.15** | **36613.93** | **29502.15** |
Impact Analysis:
* **Fishers and Fish Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Access to financial assistance through KCC, enhanced livelihood through various approved activities, improved safety and security, and social security coverage.
* *Action Required:* Avail benefits of KCC, participate in approved activities, and utilize provided safety and security measures.
* **Government of Karnataka:**
* *Impact:* Receives central financial assistance for implementing fisheries development projects, improving infrastructure, and enhancing fish production.
* *Action Required:* Implement approved projects effectively, utilize allocated funds, and monitor the progress of fisheries development activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The central government ministry responsible for the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors in India.
Karnataka: A state in India that is the focus of specific initiatives and financial assistance related to fisheries development.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme implemented by the Government of India for the holistic development of the fisheries sector.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): A fund created to support the development of infrastructure for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries: A centrally sponsored scheme implemented for the development and management of the fisheries sector.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC): A credit facility extended to fishers and fish farmers to help them meet their working capital requirements.
Shri George Kurian: Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha regarding the fisheries sector.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3734
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12THAUGUST, 2025
Improvement in Fisheries Sector
3734. Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be
pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken initiatives towards holistic development of
fisheries sector in all States/UTs in the country including Karnataka;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the fisheries sector in
Karnataka;
(c) the steps taken by the Government for enhancing fish production, strengthening
of value chain, employment generation, ensuring safety and security of fisheries and
ensuring sustainability of the resources in Karnataka; and
(d) the financial assistance provided to Government of Karnataka towards holistic
development of fisheries sector along with funds allocated, disbursed and utilized, year-
wise during the last five years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING:
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying, Government of India has taken up several transformational initiatives for holistic
development of fisheries and aquaculture sector in the country including in Karnataka.
Some of the key reforms are highlighted below.
(i) Recognizing the immense potential of the Fisheries Sector and for focused and holistic
development of the sector with fishers and fish farmers’ welfare at the core, the
Government of India created a separate Department of Fisheries in February, 2019
and this was followed up by creation of a new Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying in June, 2019.
(ii) Highest ever investments in fisheries sector: The Government of India has stepped
up investments in fisheries and aquaculture sector in the country. From 2015, the
central government has approved schemes with total investments of Rs 38,572 crore
and these include; (1) Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated
Development and Management of Fisheries implemented for a period of 5 years from
FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20 and this scheme mobilized an investment of Rs 5000 crore,
(2) Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) has been
implemented with effect from the year 2018-19 with a total funds size of Rs 7522.48
crore. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has been
implementing with effect from the FY 2020-21 with an estimated investment of
Rs.20,050 crore, (3) Central Sector Sub-scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan
Samridhi Sah Yojana (PMMKSSY) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
Yojana (PMMSY) with an investment of Rs. 6000 crore.(iii) Additionally, the Government of India with effect from the financial year 2018-19 has
extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish famers to help them
to meet their working capital requirements.
(b) to (d): The fisheries development schemes and programmes implemented by the
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India primarily aimed to address the critical gaps in fish production and
productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management,
modernisation and strengthening of fisheries value chain, establishing a robust fisheries
management framework, skill development and capacity building, creation of employment
opportunities, enhancement of income of fishers, fish farmers, welfare of fishers and to
provide social security cover to fishers.
During last five years, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying has approved fisheries developmental projects of Government
of Karnataka amounting to Rs.1058.98 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
Yojana (PMMSY) covering various fisheries activities for improving the fisheries and
aquaculture sector in the State. The major activities approved inter-alia include production
enhancing activities like establishment of hatcheries, expansion of area for freshwater
and brackishwater aquaculture, Biofloc Ponds, Deep Sea Fishing Vessels, Up-gradation
of existing Fishing Vessels for export competency, stocking of fingerlings in Reservoirs,
Cage Culture in Reservoirs, Seaweed Cultivation, Bivalve Cultivation, Ornamental Fish
rearing and breeding, Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems, installation of Artificial Reefs
in the coast towards sustainability, extension support systems-Matsya Seva Kendras &
Sagar Mitras.
The post-harvest infrastructure approved under PMMSY also including modernization of
existing Fishing Harbours, maintenance dredging at the existing fishing harours/fish
landing centres, construction of Ice Plants/Cold Storages, Fish Retail Markets, Fish
Kiosks, fish transportation facilities like Refrigerated Vehicles, Insulated Vehicles, Live
fish vending centres, Motorcycle with ice boxes, Cycle with ice boxes, Three-wheelers
with ice boxes, value added enterprise, Mobile eco-friendly fish kiosk. In addition,
communication devices including transponders, providing boats and nets to traditional
fishermen, safety-kits to fishers, livelihood and nutritional support to fishers during fishing
ban/lean period, insurance coverage have also been approved to Karnataka. Further, as
on date a total 14,933 KCC cards have been issued to fishers and fish farmers in Karnataka
for fisheries for meeting the short-term credit requirement of fishers and fish farmers.
The details of central financial assistance provided by DoF, GoI under PMMSY to
Government of Karnataka along with funds allocated, disbursed and utilized, year-wise
during the last five years towards holistic development of fisheries sector are as below:
(Rs. In lakhs)
Financial Total Central funds Central funds Central funds
Year Project Cost approved/ released utilized
allocated
2020-21 16423.94 5033.40 6235.30 6235.30
2021-22 23095.59 7136.14 9884.43 9884.43
2022-23 38459.64 13054.31 6608.00 4449.59
2023-24 23204.89 9775.83 2981.36 2981.36
2024-25 4714.09 1614.25 3793.06 3793.06
Total 105898.15 36613.93 29502.15 27343.74
c
*****