**Executive Summary**
This report details the health of India's marine fish stocks and the ongoing implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) from 2020-21 to 2025-26. With 91.1% of stocks deemed healthy, the government has approved fisheries development proposals totaling Rs. 21,274.13 crore to support small-scale fishers and enhance infrastructure. Key objectives include enforcing sustainable fishing regulations, reducing post-harvest losses, and providing livelihood support during seasonal fishing bans.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Marine Fish Stock Status**
* **Healthy Stocks:** 91.1% of India’s marine fish stocks are in a healthy condition as of 2022.
* **Production Growth:** Marine fish production increased from 34.76 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 46.15 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
* **Regional Stability:** No evidence of stock decline has been found in coastal states including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha.
**Conservation and Regulatory Measures**
* **Sustainable Practices:** Initiatives include sea ranching, seaweed farming, and the establishment of artificial reefs.
* **Bans and Restrictions:** Implementation of a uniform 61-day fishing ban during breeding periods and the prohibition of pair/bull trawling and LED light fishing in the EEZ.
* **Species Protection:** Mandatory installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets to conserve sea turtles.
* **Legislative Framework:** Notification of the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025.
**Infrastructure and Value Chain Improvements under PMMSY**
* **Storage and Processing:** Approval for 59 fishing harbours/landing centres and 734 ice plants or cold storage units.
* **Market Modernization:** Development of 21 modern wholesale markets (including 2 "Smart" markets), 202 retail markets, and 6,410 fish kiosks.
* **Transportation Units:** Deployment of over 27,000 transport facilities, including refrigerated trucks, insulated trucks, and motorcycles/bicycles with ice boxes.
**Support for Traditional Fishers**
* **Equipment Upgrades:** Financial assistance for the replacement of boats and nets for traditional fishermen.
* **Safety and Technology:** Distribution of safety kits and communication/tracking devices such as VHF and transponders.
* **Welfare Support:** Provision of livelihood and nutritional support during fishing ban or lean periods.
**Impact Analysis**
**Small-Scale and Traditional Fishers**
**Impact**
They receive increased financial assistance, modernized equipment (boats/nets), and improved safety through tracking devices. Post-harvest infrastructure helps reduce losses and increase overall income.
**Action Required**
Fishermen must adhere to the 61-day fishing ban, adopt regulated mesh sizes, and utilize provided safety kits and sustainable fishing methods as per the FAO Code of Conduct.
**State and Union Territory (UT) Governments**
**Impact**
States are responsible for the local implementation of PMMSY projects and the enforcement of Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs).
**Action Required**
States must implement advisories regarding juvenile fishing, enforce mesh-size regulations, and coordinate with the Central Government to execute approved fisheries development proposals.
**Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying**
**Impact**
The Department oversees the flagship PMMSY scheme, managing a central share of Rs. 9189.74 crore to ensure inclusive development and sustainable marine management.
**Action Required**
The Ministry must continue monitoring fish stocks through agencies like CMFRI and FSI and ensure the optimal utilization of untapped fishery resources in the EEZ under the 2025 Rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): The flagship scheme for fisheries development providing financial assistance to small-scale fishers and improving post-harvest infrastructure.
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The primary central department responsible for implementing fisheries management initiatives and the PMMSY scheme.
Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025: Rules notified to promote sustainable management of the marine ecosystem and ensure optimal utilization of untapped fishery resources.
Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs): State-level legislative frameworks used to implement conservation measures such as mesh-size regulations and minimum legal sizes.
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): The scientific body that monitors marine fish stocks and reports on the sustainability and health of India’s marine resources.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Small Scale Fishers under PMMSY
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 3:16PM by PIB Delhi
As per the scientific report published by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
in 2022, about 91.1% of India’s Marine Fish Stocks are in a healthy condition. While studies indicate
interannual fluctuations due to climate and environmental variables, marine fish production has remained
stable over the past five years, increased from 34.76 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 46.15 lakh tonnes in 2024-
25, with no evidence of decline in marine fish stocks in India’s coastal states, including Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha.
To ensure sustainable fisheries management and prevent depletion of marine resources, the Department of
Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, works in close
coordination with State/UT Governments and relevant environmental agencies. Key initiatives include the
establishment of artificial reefs along India’s coastal waters, sea ranching programmes, promotion of
seaweed farming, implementation of a uniform 61-day fishing ban during the major fish breeding period,
and installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawl nets to conserve sea turtles. Further, advisories
are issued to States/UTs to implement measures to prevent juvenile fishing, such as mesh-size regulations
and minimum legal sizes for capture under their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs), to
promote sustainable and responsible fishing practices. The Government of India has prohibited
harmful fishing practices, such as pair or bull trawling, and the use of LED or artificial lights for fishing
within the EEZ. In addition, the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) conducts awareness programs in coastal
fishing villages across the country to educate fishers about the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible
Fisheries (CCRF) and to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Further, the Ministry
of External Affairs, Government of India, has notified the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025 under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive
Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, to promote sustainable management of the marine
ecosystem while ensuring optimal utilization of untapped fishery resources in the EEZ.
(c) and (d) The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India, has been implementing the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
Yojana (PMMSY) during the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25) and in the current financial year (2025-
26) across all the States and Union Territories, including in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West
Bengal. The PMMSY envisages inclusive development, with increased financial assistance for small-scale
fishers to bring them into the mainstream of fisheries development. During this period, the Department of
Fisheries, Government of India, has accorded approval to fisheries development proposals at a total cost of
Rs. 21274.13 crore, with a central share of Rs. 9189.74 crore. The key interventions and value chain
projects/activities taken up to improve fish storage and transport infrastructure to reduce post-harvest
losses and increase fisher incomes under this scheme include; 59 fishing harbours/fish landing centres,
734 ice plants/cold storages, 21 Modern wholesale fish markets including 2 Smart, Wholesale Fish
Markets, 202 retail fish markets, 6410 fish kiosks, 27301 units of fish transportation facilities such as10924 motorcycles with ice boxes, 9412 bicycles with ice boxes, 3915 auto rickshaws, 1265 live fish
vending units, 1406 insulated trucks and 379 refrigerated trucks. Further, other key interventions taken up
under this scheme include: boats (replacement) and nets for traditional fishermen, Bio-toilets,
communication and /or Tracking Devices for traditional and motorised vessels like VHF /Transponders
etc, distribution of safety kits for fishermen of traditional and motorized fishing vessels, and Livelihood
and Nutritional support for traditional fishers during fishing ban/lean period, etc.
This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan
Singh alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha in response to a question asked.
*******
JP.
(Release ID: 2241149) Visitor Counter : 85
Read this release in: Urdu , ही