**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the initiatives taken by the Government of India to improve pisciculture facilities in the country over the last five years, with a focus on West Bengal. The response details various schemes, funding allocations, and measures to enhance fish production, ensure food safety, and prevent harmful practices. The question was slated to be answered on December 16, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Implemented schemes for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
* Provided Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish farmers.
* **Financial Approvals:**
* Approved fisheries development proposals worth Rs.25464.35 crore across various states.
* Rs.21,274.16 crore approved under PMMSY.
* Rs.4190.19 crore approved under FIDF.
* Kisan Credit Card facility worth Rs.3692.73 crore issued to 4,94,405 fishers and fish farmers.
* **Infrastructure Development:**
* Expanded area for pisciculture by 31551.33 hectares under PMMSY.
* **West Bengal Specifics:**
* Rs.545.16 crore approved for projects in West Bengal under PMMSY (last 3 years).
* Approval for 18 projects in West Bengal under FIDF at a cost of Rs.66.81 crore.
* **Income and Production:**
* Initiatives contribute to the augmentation of fish production, productivity, quality, and export.
* Fish production increased from 141.64 lakh tonne (2019-20) to 197.75 lakh tonne (2024-25).
* Fisheries export increased from Rs.46,666 crore (2019-20) to Rs.62,408 crore (2024-25).
* **Food Safety Measures:**
* Issued advisories to State Governments and Union Territories regarding safety measures to prevent the use of chemical formalin.
* Advised State Governments/UTs and FSSAI to establish task forces for joint inspection and testing.
* Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of fish and fishery products are carried out by Food Safety Departments.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Fishers and Fish Farmers**
* **Impact:**
* Increased access to financial assistance through KCC and various schemes (PMMSY, FIDF, PM-MKSSY).
* Potential for increased income due to enhanced fish production, productivity, and export opportunities.
* **Action Required:**
* Avail themselves of the benefits of the implemented schemes and financial assistance.
* Adhere to safety and quality standards in fish production.
**Stakeholder: State Governments and Union Territories**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for implementing central government schemes and ensuring effective utilization of funds.
* Required to take necessary safety measures and regulatory actions to prevent the use of harmful preservatives.
* **Action Required:**
* Implement the schemes effectively and ensure proper allocation and utilization of funds.
* Set up task forces for joint inspection and testing of chemical substances in fish.
* Enforce compliance with food safety standards and regulations.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:**
* Access to safe and wholesome fish and fishery products due to enhanced surveillance and monitoring activities.
* **Action Required:**
* Rely on the State Governments/UTs to ensure the safety of the fish products purchased.
**Stakeholder: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)**
* **Impact:**
* Required to collaborate with State Governments/UTs in setting up task forces for inspection and testing.
* **Action Required:**
* Collaborate with States for the inspection and testing of chemical use in fish and fish products.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The central ministry responsible for policies and initiatives related to fisheries in India, including the schemes mentioned.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A major fisheries development scheme implemented for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): A fund aimed at developing infrastructure for fisheries and aquaculture.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Food regulator involved in ensuring food safety standards related to fish and fishery products.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: Law under which surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products including fish and fishery products are carried out by the Food Safety Departments.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2685
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16THDECEMBER, 2025
Improving Pisciculture Facilities in the Country
2685. Md Abu Taher Khan:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be please
to state:
a) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to improve pisciculture
infrastructure in the country, during the last five years, especially in West Bengal;
(b) Whether the Government has calculated average income of fishermen;
(c) whether the income of fishermen has increased during the last five years, if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government has issued any advisories against usage of harmful
preservatives for fishes and the loss of fish for the same, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) :The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying, Government of India during the last five years (FY 2020-21 to 2024-25) has
taken up several initiatives including implementing various schemes for holistic
development of fisheries and aquaculture including improvement of pisciculture
infrastructure in the country. The fisheries development schemes implemented
include (i) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), (ii) Fisheries and
Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and (iii) Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY). In addition, Kisan Credit Card(KCC) facility
is also provided to fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
during the last five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) has accorded approvals to
fisheries development proposals worth of Rs.25464.35 crore of various States
Governments, Union Territories and other End Implementing Agencies. This includes
projects worth of Rs.21,274.16 crore approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Rs.4190.19 crore under Fisheries and Aquaculture
Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). The activities approved inter-alia includes
expansion of an area of 31551.33 hectares for pisciculture under PMMSY Additionally,
Kisan Credit Card facility to 4,94,405 fishers and fish farmers with loan amount of
Rs.3692.73 crore have been issued so far .to meet their working capital. These
initiatives contributed towards enhancement of fish production, productivity, quality
thereby enhancing the income of fishers and fish farmers.The Department of Fisheries, Government of India during the last three years (2022-
23 to 2024-25) has accorded approvals to projects of Government of West Bengal
amounting to Rs.545.16 crore under PMMSY, as the Government of West Bengal has
not participated in implementation of PMMSY in the initial two years (FY 2020-21 and
FY 2021-22). In addition, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has also
accorded approval to 18 project proposals at a cost of Rs.66.81 crore for West Bengal
under FIDF. While no specific calculation has been made to assess average income
of fishers during the last five years, the initiatives taken by the Government of India
including diversification of fisheries have been contributing towards augmentation of
fish production, productivity, quality to meet the consumer demands and preference
and export thereby attributing to enhancement of income of fishers & fish farmers.
During the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), fish production increased from 141.64
lakh tonne in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonne in 2024-25. Similarly, fisheries export has
also increased from Rs.46,666 crore (2019-20) to Rs.62,408 crore (2024-25).
(d): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying has advised the State Governments and Union Territories to take necessary
safety measures and regulatory actions to prevent use of chemical formalin in
preservation of fish and fisheries products. Further, in order to tackle harmful use of
formalin in fish and fishery products intended for human consumption, the Department
of Fisheries, Government of India has also advised the State Governments/UTs and
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for setting up a task force
including members from the concerned States Departments/agencies for joint
inspection and testing of chemical substances like formalin content in fish. To ensure
the availability of safe and wholesome food to the consumers, regular surveillance,
monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products including fish and fishery
products are being carried out by the Food Safety Departments of the respective
States/UTs to ensure compliance of the standards laid down under the Food Safety
and Standards Act, 2006, and the Rules and Regulations made there under.
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