**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 289 regarding the safety of fishermen. The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying details the Government of India's schemes and programs to enhance fishermen's safety and security at sea under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The response covers the period from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, with the question to be answered on December 2nd, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Assistance and Safety Kits:**
* The Government provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) for safety measures for fishermen.
* Assistance includes providing safety kits with GPS, life jackets, lifebuoys, radar reflectors, first-aid boxes, flares, backup batteries, search & rescue beacons to fishermen of traditional and motorized fishing vessels.
* Support is given for communication and tracking devices onboard fishing vessels and Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) devices.
* From FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, proposals for 14,300 communication devices for marine fishermen were approved at a cost of Rs 50.05 crore under PMMSY.
* **Insurance Coverage:**
* PMMSY provides insurance cover to fishers against death and disabilities, including premium subvention for insuring fishing vessels.
* Insurance coverage includes:
* Rs. 5.00 lakh for death or permanent total disability.
* Rs. 2.50 lakh for permanent partial disability.
* Rs. 25,000 for hospitalization expenses.
* Insurance premium subvention covers damage to hull, machinery, accessories, fishing nets, collision liability, total/partial loss, and natural calamities.
* From 2021-22 to 2024-25, insurance coverage was provided to a total of 131.30 lakh fishers, averaging 32.82 lakh annually.
* **Vessel Communication and Support System (NRVCSS):**
* The Government approved the National Rollout of NRVCSS at a cost of Rs. 364 Crore under PMMSY.
* The project covers installation of transponders on one lakh fishing vessels with 100% Governmental assistance.
* Transponders include geo-fencing to alert fishermen crossing maritime boundaries.
* Under NRVCSS, 45,051 transponders have been installed on marine fishing vessels, including 3,884 in Tamil Nadu under the Blue Revolution scheme.
* **Community Interaction Programs (CIPs):**
* The Fisheries Department of coastal States/UTs, in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, conducts CIPs.
* CIPs aim to educate fishermen on the importance of safety at sea, life-saving equipment, and usage of communication devices and to not cross the maritime boundary.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Fishermen**
* **Impact:** Enhanced safety and security at sea through the provision of safety kits, communication devices, insurance coverage, and alerts about maritime boundaries. Potential reduction in accidents, fatalities, and losses due to natural calamities.
* **Action Required:** Attend Community Interaction Programs (CIPs), utilize provided safety equipment, adhere to maritime boundary alerts, and understand the benefits and coverage of the insurance scheme.
**Stakeholder: State Governments and Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and distributing government assistance programs, providing safety equipment, and organizing CIPs.
* **Action Required:** Implement approved proposals, coordinate with the Indian Coast Guard for CIPs, ensure the distribution of safety kits and devices, and actively participate in schemes like PMMSY and NRVCSS.
**Stakeholder: Department of Fisheries**
* **Impact:** Oversight and management of schemes and programs aimed at enhancing the safety and security of fishermen.
* **Action Required:** Approve and manage financial assistance proposals from coastal states and UTs. Monitor the implementation of NRVCSS and distribution of transponders. Conduct impact assessments of the programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A scheme providing financial assistance for the safety and security of fishermen, including insurance coverage and equipment.
National Rollout of Vessel Communication and Support System (NRVCSS): A program for installing transponders on fishing vessels to prevent them from crossing the maritime boundary.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The primary governmental body responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to fisheries and fishermen welfare.
Coastal States & UTs: States and Union Territories with coastlines, which are the recipients of financial assistance under PMMSY for improving fisherman safety.
Indian Coast Guard: An organization that collaborates with coastal States/UTs for community interaction programs (CIPs) to improve the safety of fishermen.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 289
TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND DECEMBER, 2025
Safety of Fishermen
289. Shri. Navaskani K:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be
pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has formulated any special scheme to enhance the
safety of fishermen;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to assist fishermen affected by
natural calamities and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide relief to fishermen who are affected
by the coastal authorities or forces of neighbouring countries, and 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 accords paramount importance to safety and security of
fishermen at sea and provides financial assistance under its various schemes and
programmes. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the
Department of Fisheries, Government of India provides financial assistance to the State
Governments and Union Territories(UTs) for providing (i) safety kits consisting of GPS,
life jacket, lifebuoy and other life-saving appliances, radar reflector, first-aid box, a set of
flares, backup battery, search & rescue beacons etc., to fishermen of traditional and
motorized fishing vessels, (ii) communication and tracking devices onboard the fishing
vessels, (iii) Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) devices etc., to ensure safety of fishermen
during fishing at sea and adverse climatic conditions. The Department of Fisheries,
Government of India during the last five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) has approved
the proposals of various Coastal States & UTs for supply of 14,300 communication
devices to marine fishermen at a total cost of Rs 50.05 crore under PMMSY.PMMSY inter-alia provides insurance cover to fishers against death and disabilities and
insurance premium subvention for insurance of fishing vessels. The insurance coverage
provided to fishers includes (i) Rs.5.00 lakh against death or permanent total disability, (ii)
Rs. 2.50 lakh against permanent partial disability and (iii) coverage for hospitalization
expenses of Rs. 25,000/-. The insurance premium subvention for insurance of fishing
vessels to cover the damage of hull, machinery, accessories including fishing nets,
collision liability, total loss, partial loss, and losses caused by Natural Calamities. During
the last three years (2021-22 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25), insurance
coverage to a total 131.30 lakh fishers with an average of 32.82 lakh fishers annually has
been provided under PMMSY .
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India has approved another proposal on National Rollout of Vessel
Communication and Support System (NRVCSS) at a total cost of Rs. 364 Crore under
the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for installation of transponders
onboard the fishing vessels in all coastal States and UTs. The transponders are being
fitted to cover a total one lakh fishing vessels with 100% Governmental assistance. The
transponders have geo-fencing features and give alerts to the fishermen upon
approaching to or crossing over the maritime boundary so as to prevent such incidences
of crossing the maritime boundary. Under the NRVCSS projects, so far, a total 45051
transponders have been installed on board the marine fishing vessels, this including
3,884 transponders in Tamil Nadu which were installed under Blue Revolution scheme
Besides, the Fisheries Department of coastal States/UTs in coordination with Indian
Coast Guard are regularly conducting the community interaction programs (CIPs) with
the fishermen to appraise them the importance of safety of life at sea, carriage of life
saving equipment, usage of portable communication sets and are also impressed not to
cross the maritime boundary.
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