Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying addressed Lok Sabha Question No. 3760 regarding National Fish Farmer Day, celebrated annually on July 10th. The 2025 celebration in Bhubaneswar included launching new fisheries clusters and initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The aim is to recognize contributions to the fisheries sector and promote sustainable resource management.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Fish Farmers Day (NFFD)
Celebrated annually on July 10th to commemorate the successful induced breeding of Indian Major Carps (IMC) in 1957.
Aims to recognize contributions of fish farmers, entrepreneurs, and fishermen.
Focuses on creating an ecosystem for sustainable fisheries resource management.
NFFD 2025 Celebration:
Held at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar on July 10th, 2025.
Included the announcement of 17 new fisheries production and processing clusters, adding to the existing 17.
Launched ICAR Training Calendar on Fisheries.
Launched Guidelines on Hatchery Accreditation and Seed Certification of Freshwater Finfishes and Shellfishes.
Beneficiaries were felicitated under schemes like Kisan Credit Card (KCC), aquaculture crop insurance, fisheries cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and fisheries startups.
70 fisheries projects supported under PMMSY, with an outlay of Rs. 105 crore, were virtually inaugurated and had their foundations laid.
Fisheries Clusters:
34 total fisheries clusters are notified under PMMSY.
Strategically identified for region-specific potential.
Aim to enhance fish production, promote value addition, improve market access, and create livelihood opportunities.
State-wise details of cluster locations are provided in the Annexure.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is designated to assess gap analysis for these clusters.
Funding:
Budgetary requirements for gap filling projects are undertaken from ongoing Government of India schemes, including PMMSY, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), and Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
Schemes and programs implemented by respective States will also contribute.
Impact Analysis:
Fish Farmers, Entrepreneurs, and Fishermen:
Impact: Recognition of contributions to the fisheries sector, opportunities for growth through new clusters and initiatives, and access to financial assistance.
Action Required: Engage with new clusters, participate in relevant schemes (KCC, insurance), and adopt sustainable practices.
State Governments:
Impact: Collaboration in implementing PMMSY and supporting fisheries development, potential for economic growth through enhanced fish production and value addition.
Action Required: Implement relevant schemes and programs, support the development of fisheries clusters, and coordinate with NFDB.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB):
Impact: Increased responsibility in assessing gap analysis of fisheries clusters and ensuring effective implementation of solutions.
Action Required: Conduct thorough gap analysis of all 34 fisheries production and processing clusters and provide end-to-end solutions.
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying:
Impact: Oversight and management of fisheries development initiatives and responsible for monitoring progress towards sustainable fisheries resource management.
Action Required: Continue to support and promote initiatives like NFFD and PMMSY, monitor the progress of the fisheries clusters, and adapt strategies as needed to ensure successful outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
National Fish Farmer Day: An annual event observed on 10th July to recognize contributions to the fisheries sector.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme by the Government of India to develop the fisheries sector.
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha: Location where the National Fish Farmer Day 2025 was celebrated.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA): An institute where the National Fish Farmers Day 2025 was celebrated.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC): A scheme under which beneficiaries were felicitated during NFFD2025.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): Designated to assess the gap analysis of fisheries production and processing clusters.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): A fund utilized for gap filling projects in fisheries clusters.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi SahYojana (PMMKSSY): A scheme utilized for gap filling projects in fisheries clusters.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3760
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2025
National Fish Farmer Day
3760. Shri Sudheer Gupta:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has celebrated the National Fish Farmer Day-2025 at Bhubaneshwar,
Odisha recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the programmes organized during the celebration;
(c) whether the Government has launched new fisheries clusters under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and if so, the details thereof, location and State-wise;
(d) the details of expenditure likely to be incurred on the construction of these fisheries clusters and the
time by which the work likely to start; and
(e) the key features of these new fisheries clusters launched in the event?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a) to (e): The National Fish Farmers Day is observed every year on 10th July to commemorate the
successful induced breeding of Indian Major Carps (IMC) in 1957 by the renowned scientists namely Dr.
Hira Lal Chaudhury and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi. The intent of celebrating this day is to recognize the
contributions made by fish farmers, entrepreneurs and fishermen to the development of the nation’s
fisheries sector and to create an ecosystem to collectively think and discuss the ways to sustainably
manage our fisheries resources. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying celebrated the National Fish Farmers’ Day, 2025 (NFFD-2025) at Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar on 10th
July 2025. During the said NFFD-2025, several key initiatives were launched including the
announcement of new 17 fisheries production and processing clusters in addition to the already notified
17 clusters, ICAR Training Calendar on Fisheries, Guidelines on Hatchery Accreditation and Seed
Certification of Freshwater Finfishes and Shellfishes. Beneficiaries were felicitated under various
schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), aquaculture crop insurance, fisheries cooperatives and
Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and fisheries start-ups. In addition to the above, 70
fisheries projects were virtually inaugurated and foundation were laid supported under Pradhan Mantri
Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an outlay of Rs.105 crore, marking a strong push towards
infrastructure development, entrepreneurship promotion and inclusive growth in the sector. The State-
wise details of locations of these clusters are furnished at Annexure. These clusters are strategically
identified for their region-specific potential and are aimed at enhancing fish production, promoting value
addition, improving market access and creating livelihood opportunities through fisheries cooperative
development and private investment.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is designated to assess the gap analysis of all
the aforesaid production and processing fisheries clusters with end-to-end solutions. The budgetary
requirements for gap filling projects are undertaken from the ongoing schemes of Government of India
like Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure
Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), Kisan
Credit Card (KCC) etc. and Schemes and programs implemented by the respective States.
*****Annexure
Statement referred to reply to the Lok Sabha untarred Question No. 3760 put in by Shri
Sudheer Gupta, Member of Parliament for answer on 12th August, 2025 regarding National
Fish Farmer Day: State-wise details of total 34 Fisheries Clusters notified under PMMSY
Sl. Name of the Name of the Leading
Partnering District
No. State/UT Cluster District
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)
Jammu & Kashmir Coldwater Anant Nag Kulgam & Shopian
1.
Fisheries
Haryana Saline Water Sirsa Rohtak, Hissar and
2.
Aquaculture Fatehabad
Madhya Pradesh Reservoir Bhopal (Halali Khandwa (Indira Sagar
3.
Fisheries Dam) Dam)
4. Chhattisgarh Tilapia Cluster Raipur Dhamtri and Kanker
5. Bihar Wetland Fisheries Siwan Gopalganj and Chapra
Uttar Pradesh Pangasius Cluster Sidarth Nagar Maharajganj and Kabir
6.
Nagar, Basti
Odisha Scampi Cluster Balasore Mayurbhanj and
7.
Bhadrakh
Andhra Pradesh Brackish water West Godavari Krishna, Elluru and
8.
Aquaculture (Bhimavaram) Nellore
9. Karnataka Sea Cage Cluster Uttara Kannada Badkal and Kumtta
Sikkim Organic Fisheries Soreng -
10.
cluster
11. Jharkhand Pearl Cluster Hazaribagh -
Tamil Nadu Ornamental Madurai -
12.
Fisheries Cluster
Lakshadweep - -
13. Seaweed Cluster
Islands
Andaman & -- --
14. Tuna Cluster
Nicobar Islands
15. Telangana Murrel Cluster Mancherial Peddapalli
16. Kerala Pearl Spot Cluster Kollam Kottayam
Gujarat Veraval Mangrol fishing
17. Fishing Harbour
Harbour
18. Punjab Saline water Muktsar Sahib Fazilka
Aquaculture
19. Uttarakhand Cold water Pithoragarh Chamoli Bageswar
Fisheries
20. West Bengal Dry Fish Cluster Purba Mednipur Sagar Island
21. Puducherry Fishing Harbour Karaikal Fishing Thengaithitu Fishing
Harbour Harbour
22. Nagaland Integrated fish Mokokchung Chumoukedima
farming
23. Manipur Pengba fish cluster Bishnupur Loktak Lake
24. Assam Riverine Fisheries Goalpara Kamrup and DarangSl. Name of the Name of the Leading
Partnering District
No. State/UT Cluster District
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)
25. Mizoram Paddy cum fish Kolasib Serchhip
cluster
26. Arunachal Aqua-tourism Ziro Tawang, West Kameng
Pradesh cluster and Shi-Yomi
27. Ladakh Coldwater fisheries Kargil Leh
28. Goa Estuarine cage North Goa South Goa
culture
29. Himachal Pradesh Coldwater Kullu District Mandi
Fisheries
30. Tripura Pabda fisheries Unakoti North Tripura
cluster
31. Rajasthan Saline water Churu Hanumangarh
aquaculture
32. Maharashtra Fisheries Raigad Ratnagiri
Cooperatives
33. Dadar & Nagar Fishing Harbour Diu (Vanakbara) --
Haveli and Daman
Diu
34. Meghalaya Organic fish West Khasi Hills East Khasi Hills
farming
*****