Parliament Question: Promotion of Cooperative Deep Sea Fishing

O.I.H GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 366 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2nd DECEMBER, 2025 Promotion of Cooperative Deep Sea Fishing † 366. Shri Chandan Chauhan:

Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to

state:

(a) the objectives of the initiative to promote cooperative deep sea fishing and the institutional arrangements put in place for its implementation;

(b) the role of the Ministry of Cooperation and the Department of Fisheries in implementing this programme through cooperatives and Fishermen Producer Organizations;

(c) the support being provided by the Government for marine infrastructure development under the schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund

(FIDF); and

(d) the outcomes expected from these efforts in terms of coastal livelihood empowerment, fish export growth and sustainable resource management? ANSWER MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) and (b): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is implementing a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) which aims to enhance the overall growth of the fisheries sector and wellbeing of the fishers and fish farmers. One of the key objectives of PMMSY is to empower the traditional and small- scale fishers to undertake deep-sea fishing. Under PMMSY, financial support is

provided to traditional fishers for acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels as well as upgradation of existing fishing vessels for export competency.

Adopting the “whole of government approach”, the Department of Fisheries, GoI is collaborating with the Ministry of Cooperation through a Joint Working Group

(JWG), to promote small-scale fishermen’s participation in deep-sea fishing, value- chain development, processing and exports. The Ministry of Cooperation supports this initiative by strengthening cooperative institutions and facilitating access to cooperative credit through National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).(c) and (d): The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is being implemented with a highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crore with effect from Financial Year 2020-21 for holistic development of fisheries and wellbeing of fishermen and fish farmers. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, is also implementing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore since 2018-19. The Government of India has, inter alia, approved for providing credit guarantee facility under the FIDF while it was extended for a period of 3 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26).

The PMMSY inter-alia envisages support towards livelihood strengthening activities such as providing boats and nets to traditional fishermen, support for communication and tracking devices, providing sea-safety kits, insurance cover to fishers, support for acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels, alternative/additional livelihood activities like seaweed cultivation & bivalve culture, training & skill development, support towards cold-chain and marketing facilities, etc. Besides, the scheme also envisages construction of Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres ensuring safe landing and berthing of fishing boats/vessels. Whereas, FIDF inter-alia provides concessional finance for development of various fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure facilities to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including State Governments/Union Territories and State entities for development of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities including construction of Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres, Deep Sea Fishing Vessels, Cold chain facilities, Fish Markets and Mariculture Units and its allied activities for supporting coastal livelihood empowerment, fish export growth and sustainable resource management.

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