TRADITIONAL FISHERMEN AND FISH FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU - 28th July 2026 - Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying - Gazette Notification PDF
Issued by Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on 28th July 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary The document outlines initiatives by the Ministry of Fisheries to enhance the livelihoods and socio-economic welfare of traditional fishermen and fish farmers in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Ramanathapuram district. Key programs including PMMSY (2020-2025), FIDF (2018-2026), and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme provide financial assistance, infrastructure, and skill training. Significant projects include a ₹127.71 crore Multipurpose Seaweed Park and various infrastructure developments slated for completion between 2024 and 2026.
Key Points / Main Content
Financial and Livelihood Support
- Institutional Credit: Facilitated ₹236.26 crore in credit to 13,949 fishermen in Ramanathapuram via the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to meet working capital needs.
- Direct Assistance: Provided ₹84.08 crore in livelihood and nutritional support to over 1.19 lakh socio-economically backward families during fishing ban/lean periods.
- Subsidies: Offered 50% to 70% subsidies for the construction of deep-sea tuna fishing vessels.
- Insurance: Implemented a group accident insurance scheme for fishers.
Infrastructure Development
- Major Projects: Sanctioned a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Ramanathapuram at a total cost of ₹127.71 crore.
- Ongoing Works: Developing fish landing centres at Thangachimadam (₹150 crore), Kunthukal (₹148 crore), and Pamban North (₹58.50 crore) under NABARD schemes.
- Technological Upgrades: Installed 402 Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and 885 Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) to enhance safety and conservation.
- Artificial Reefs: Completed fabrication and installation of artificial reefs in 146 locations across Ramanathapuram district.
Capacity Building and Training
- Training Volume: Conducted 88 training programs covering 5,599 trainees over the past three years.
- Core Skills: Training focuses on seaweed farming, value addition, engine repair, net crafting, disaster preparedness (emergency response), and sustainable aquaculture.
- Alternative Livelihoods: Promoting mariculture through the establishment of 19,575 seaweed culture rafts/monolines and 499 cage culture units.
Sustainable Initiatives
- Climate Resilience: Establishing climate-resilient coastal fishermen villages at Kalimangundu and Soliyakudi.
- Diversified Farming: Implementing biofloc ponds for brackish/saline areas and backyard ornamental units to diversify income streams.
Impact Analysis
Traditional Fishermen and Fish Farmers Impact Benefit from improved socio-economic security through direct subsidies, institutional credit, and insurance. They gain access to modern infrastructure and alternative livelihood opportunities like seaweed and cage culture, reducing dependency on seasonal fishing. Action Required Fishermen should enroll in the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) program and participate in skill development training to transition toward sustainable and diversified fishing practices.
Socio-economically Backward Fisher Families Impact Receive critical nutritional and financial support during fishing ban periods, ensuring food security and basic welfare when active fishing is prohibited. Action Required Families must ensure they are registered under the state livelihood support schemes to receive timely disbursements during lean periods.
Government and Implementing Agencies (DoF/NABARD) Impact Responsible for the execution of large-scale infrastructure projects and the disbursement of funds under various central and state schemes. Action Required Agencies must monitor the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects, such as fish landing centres and the seaweed park, scheduled through the 2024-2026 period.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): The primary flagship scheme implemented for the holistic development of the fisheries sector and welfare of traditional fishermen.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): A dedicated fund for creating and improving fisheries infrastructure like landing centres and processing units.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC): A credit facility extended to fishers and fish farmers to meet their institutional credit and working capital requirements.
Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu: The central geographical focus for the implementation of projects like the Multipurpose Seaweed Park and artificial reef installations.
Department of Fisheries (DoF): The primary implementing agency under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying responsible for sector-specific schemes.
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Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
TRADITIONAL FISHERMEN AND FISH FARMERS
IN TAMIL NADU
प्रव तथ: 28 JUL 2026 4:05PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) is implementing various schemes and
programs for holistic development of fisheries sector and to enhance the livelihood, income and socio-
economic welfare of traditional fishermen and fish farmers in the country including Tamil Nadu, such as
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) (2020-21 to 2024-25), Fisheries and Aquaculture
Infrastructure Development Fund (2018-19 to 2025-26), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah
Yojana (2023-24 to 2026-27) and Extension of the facility of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers
and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements. In the state of Tamil Nadu, a project titled
"Establishment of Multipurpose Seaweed Park" has been sanctioned under the PMMSY at a total cost of
Rs. 127.71 crore, including component of seaweed multiplication in Hub-I Centre at Valamavur in
Ramanathapuram District.
Under PMMSY and schemes of State Government of Tamil Nadu implemented in Ramanathapuram
district in the last three financial years (2023-2026), financial assistance in the form of subsidies,
insurance coverage and livelihood support has been provided to traditional fishermen and fish farmers for
various activities, as detailed in Annexure I.
(c): The details of fisheries infrastructure developed in Ramanathapuram district, including fishing
harbours, fish landing centres, cold storage facilities, ice plants, fish processing units and aquaculture
infrastructure are provided at Annexure II.
(d): The Government organizes various skill development and capacity-building programmes for
fishermen and fish farmers to enhance their technical skills, disseminate recent innovations and best
practices in the fisheries sector, and promote sustainable livelihood opportunities. These training
programmes contribute to the livelihood development and socio-economic upliftment of fisher families.
88 training programs covering about 5599 trainees were conducted in the previous 3 years for fishers and
fish farmers in Ramanathapuram district. The details are given in Annexure III.
(e): The Government is implementing various schemes to promote sustainable fisheries and enhance the
livelihood of traditional fishing communities in Ramanathapuram district. Financial assistance and
institutional credit is provided for acquisition of 45 deep-sea tuna fishing vessels. In Ramanthapuram
District 13,949 Fishermen and farmers are facilitated with access to institutional credit of Rs. 236.26 crore
through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). Further, mariculture activities such as seaweed cultivation and cage
culture are being actively promoted to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for fishers and coastal
communities. So far, 19,575 seaweed culture rafts and monolines and 499 cage culture units have been
established in different districts of Tamil Nadu including Ramanthapuram under various Government
schemes. In addition, skill development and capacity-building programmes are regularly organized on
seaweed farming, aquaculture and mariculture practices, value addition of fishery products, dry fishprocessing, preparation of ready-to-eat fish products, boat driving, marine engine repair and maintenance,
net crafting, and recycling of waste fishing nets to enhance the technical skills and income-generating
capacity of beneficiaries.
*****
Annexure-I
Statement regarding Traditional Fishermen and Fish Farmers in Tamil Nadu
S. No. Name of the Project Units Project cost
(Rs. In Crores)
1. Establishment & Operation of Vessel 402 18.01 (for 4997 units)
Monitoring System (VMS)
2. Installation of the Turtle Excluder 885 6.29 (for 2613 units)
Devices (TED)
3. Establishment of Seaweed culture rafts 2100 1.90
including inputs
4. Establishment of Seaweed culture with 60 0.028
Monoline/tubenet Method including
inputs
5. Construction of Biofloc ponds for 13 1.00
Brackish water/Saline/Alkaline areas
including inputs
6. Refrigerated vehicles/Insulated 78 1.52
Vehicles/Motor cycle with Ice
Box/Cycle with Ice Boxes/Three
wheeler with Ice Box including e-
rickshaws for fish vending
7. Tuna Fishing Boat Construction (70% 5 4.00
subsidy)
8. Tuna Fishing Boat Construction (50% 10 2.37
subsidy)
9. Establishment of Open Sea cages 80 0.24
10. Backyard ornamental unit 1 0.0211. Livelihood and nutritional support for 1,19,104 84.08
socio economically backward active
traditional fishers’ families for
conservation of fisheries resources
during fishing ban/lean period
12. Group accident insurance scheme 102 5.10
Annexure-II
Statement regarding Traditional Fishermen and Fish Farmers in Tamil Nadu
NABARD SCHEMES - Ongoing Projects
S.No Name of the Project Year of Project cost
Sanction
(In Crores)
1 Improvements to the Fish Landing Centre 2024-25 Rs.150.00
at Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram
District
2 Construction of Bait Arch at 2024-25 Rs.20.00
Roachmanagar Village in
Ramanathapuram District
3 Improvements to the Fish Landing Centre 2024-25 Rs.148.00
at Kunthukal in Ramanathapuram
District
4 Construction of Fish Landing Centre at 2024-25 Rs.58.50
Pamban North Village in
Ramanathapuram District
NABARD SCHEMES - Completed Projects
1 Construction of Bait Arch at Merkuvadi 2025-26 Rs.24.27
village in Ramanathapuram Distric
FIDF SCHEMES - Ongoing Projects
1 Construction of Fish Landing Centre at 2025-26 Rs.1.63
Thiruppalaikudi in Ramanathapuram
District2 Construction of Fish Landing Centre at 2025-26 Rs.1.63
Nambuthalai in Ramanathapuram District
3 Providing Additional Infrastructure 2025-26 Rs.1.63
Facilities at Rameswaram in
Ramanathapuram District
4 Providing Additional Infrastructure 2025-26 Rs.0.80
Facilities at Vaalinokkam in
Ramanathapuram District
5 Providing Additional Infrastructure 2025-26 Rs.0.80
Facilities at Morepannai in
Ramanathapuram District
PMMSY SCHEMES - Completed Projects
1 Fabrication and Installation of Artificial 2024-25 Rs.23.25
Reefs in 75 Locations of 10 Fishermen
Villages in Ramanathapuram – North in
Ramanathapuram District
2 Fabrication and Installation of Artificial 2024-25 Rs.12.09
Reefs in 39 Locations of 4 Fishermen
Villages in Rameswaram in
Ramanathapuram District
3 Fabrication and Installation of Artificial 2024-25 Rs.2.79
Reefs in 9 Locations of 9 Fishermen
Villages in Mandapam in
Ramanathapuram District
4 Fabrication and Installation of Artificial 2024-25 Rs.7.13
Reefs in 23 Locations of 10 Fishermen
Villages in Ramanathapuram-South in
Ramanathapuram District
PMMSY SCHEMES - Ongoing Projects
1 Development of Climate Resilient 2024-25 Rs.1.40
Coastal Fishermen Village at
Kalimangundu in Ramanathapuram
District2 Development of Climate Resilient 2024-25 Rs.1.40
Coastal Fishermen Village at Soliyakudi
in Ramanathapuram District
3 Establishment of Multipurpose seaweed 2023-24 Rs.127.71
Park in TamilNadu
*****
Annexure-III
Statement regarding Traditional Fishermen and Fish Farmers in Tamil Nadu
S. No. Training Program Number of Number of Trainees
trainings
(Batches)
1. NFDB Training on seaweed value 23 575
added products and production of
seaweed SAP & Fertilizer
2. Community Based Emergency 28 1116
Response Training (First Responder
Training on disaster preparedness,
emergency response, and first aid)
3. Livelihood of Fishermen (Palk Bay and 34 3683
Gulf of Mannar Districts) on various
aspects such as seaweed farming, value
added fishery products, boat driving,
engine repair and maintenance, dry fish
making, ready to eat products,
aquaculture and mariculture activities,
net craft and waste net recycling
4. Training on Pond Based Seabass 3 225
culture
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
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