Parliament Question: PMMSY in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3799 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12th AUGUST, 2025 PMMSY in Tamil Nadu 3799. Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the blue economy with a focus on enhancing fisheries infrastructure in coastal States, including Tamil Nadu; (b) the current status of development and modernization of fish landing centers, cold storage facilities, processing units, and fishing harbors in Tamil Nadu; (c) the details of funds allocated and utilized for fisheries infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu under Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana (PMMSY) during the last five years; (d) the initiatives undertaken to promote sustainable fishing practices, marine biodiversity conservation and fisherfolk welfare in Tamil Nadu; (e) whether the Government has any plans to enhance marine aquaculture, export potential, and skill development programs for fishermen in Tamil Nadu; and (f) the measures being taken to ensure effective coordination with the State Government for maximizing the impact of these initiatives? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN) (a) and (b): Recognizing the immense potential of the Fisheries Sector and for focused and holistic development of the sector with fishers and fish farmers’ welfare, for strengthening the blue economy with a focus on enhancing fisheries infrastructure, the Government of India has taken several steps like 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. 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, (3) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has been implemented with effect from the FY 2020-21 with an estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crore, (4) 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. 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. These schemes are primarily designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post- harvest infrastructure and management, modernisation and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare to realize the Blue Economy. Department of Fisheries, Government of India has accorded approvals for various project proposals of Government of Tamil Nadu under PMMSY during FY 2020-25, which includes up-gradation of Fishing Harbour at Pazhayar Chennai fishing harbour and construction of four integrated Fish Landing Centres at Nettukuppam, Thazankuppam, Arangankuppam and Goonankuppam at a total project cost of Rs. 155.57 crore. The other fisheries post harvest infrastructure activities approved for Tamil Nadu under PMMSY during FY 2020-25 includes construction of Ice Plants/Cold storages (41 Nos), fish markets (3 Nos), Construction of Fish Kiosks (55 Nos) and post-harvest transportation units (1540 Nos).Under the scheme of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), 64 proposals worth of Rs. 1646.73 crore have been approved during the FY2018-19 to 2025-26 for the State of Tamil Nadu, which includes 21 Fish landing centers at total project cost of Rs.157.50 Crore and 12 Fishing Harbours at total project cost of Rs.1300.00 crore. Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that under FIDF scheme, Modernization of Nagapattinam Fishing Harbour to the tune of Rs.81.00 crore was undertaken and completed. Further, Expansion and Modernization of Thangapattinam Fishing Harbour in Kanyakumari District has been undertaken at a cost Rs.193.00 crore under two phases, out of which one phase work completed. Government of Tamil Nadu has also informed that under PMMSY scheme, for Cold Storage facilities, work order has been issued to 2 beneficiaries under Cold storage of 10 ton capacity and 1 beneficiary under Cold storage of 50 ton capacity and construction works are taken up. (c): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India during last five years (FY 2020-21- FY 2024-25) accorded approvals to the fisheries development proposals of Government of Tamil Nadu amounting to Rs. 1159.98 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which includes Post harvest and cold chain infrastructure projects such as 40 Cold Storages/Ice Plants, 204 Refrigerated/ Insulated vehicles, 12 Live fish vending Centers, 1264 Motor cycle with Ice Box, 60 Three wheeler with Ice Box including e-rickshaws and 5 feed mills/plants and Markets and marketing infrastructure projects of 3 fish retail markets and 55 fish kiosks including kiosks of aquarium/ornamental fish worth Rs.108.13 crore. The Government of Tamil Nadu has reported that, Rs. 258.46 crore has been utilized for implementation of the approved projects under PMMSY. (d) and (e): Advisories are issued to coastal States and Union Territories including to Tamil Nadu from time to time for preventing juvenile fishing and promoting sustainable fishing practices. The key conservation measures taken up to ensure sustainable marine fisheries includes (i) Implementation of 61 days uniform ban on fishing in the Indian EEZ annually, (ii) Ban on destructive fishing practices in the Indian EEZ viz. paired bottom trawling or bull trawling and use of artificial and LED lights in fishing, (iii) Declaration of marine protected areas (MPAs) and protection of endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species, (iv) Installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets, fishing gear and mesh-size regulations, minimum legal size (MLS) of fishes, spatial-temporal restrictions, zonation of fishing areas by the coastal States/UTs To promote sustainable fishing in the state of Tamil Nadu, Government of India has approved the project for installation of 417 Artificial Reef units at a total project cost of Rs.129.27 Crore and the project for establishment of Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu at a total project cost of Rs.127.71 Crore. Under marine aquaculture activities and to support fisherfolk welfare in the state of Tamil Nadu, DoF, GoI has approved the projects for establishment of Multipurpose Seaweed Park, Seaweed culture rafts including inputs, Seaweed culture with Monoline/tubenet method including inputs, Marine Finfish Nurseries, Open Sea cages and Bivalve cultivation (mussels, clams, pearls, etc.). Government of Tamil Nadu informed that under PMMSY, 109 cages distributed for fisher folk; 9745 seaweed rafts and 2630 monoline to 1964 fisherwomen and for the development of Shrimp culture, subsidy has been provided for construction of 53 bio-floc ponds; 100 ha of construction of new ponds, 10 ha of construction of seabass fish pond and 2 nos. of Marine finfish nursery. In order to enhance India’s export potential and higher price realization, the PMMSY scheme implemented by DoF, GoI supports a basket of interventions/activities along the fisheries value chain including quality fish production, expansion, diversification and intensification of brackish water aquaculture, promotion of export-oriented species, infusion of technology, robust disease management and traceability, training and capacity building, creation of modern postharvest infrastructure with seamless cold chain, development of modern fishing harbours and fish landing centres, etc. Training and capacity-building programs have also been imparted under PMMSY Scheme through National Fisheries Development Board. The projects are approved based on proposals received from the states and include initiatives aimed at enhancing skills of fishers and fish farmers for livelihood generation through various activities under PMMSY. Under the schemes of Government of India, training programs for seaweed cultivation have also been imparted to 750 fisherwomen during 2018- 19. (f): Besides, the implementation of the scheme and its funds utilization are monitored by obtaining physical and financial progress reports from the State Governments and for effective coordination between Government of India and States, regular monitoring, workshops, training and conferences are organized. *****