PMMSY, PM-MKSSY and FIDF expand infrastructure, insurance, digital services, exports and livelihood support across India

Key Highlights

• India’s fish production increased from 147.25 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
• PMMSY has approved ₹21,584.59 crore in projects, including Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored components, with 47.32 lakh beneficiaries under the data provided.
• 9,650 Access Passes have been issued to fishing vessels for operations in India’s EEZ.
• PM-MKSSY has registered 35.92 lakh fisheries stakeholders on the National Fisheries Digital Platform.
• Government-approved projects worth ₹2,797 crore are strengthening cold chains, transportation and fish marketing infrastructure.
• Marine product exports reached 19.72 lakh tonnes worth ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26.
• Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka are among the states receiving significant fisheries infrastructure and livelihood support.

India’s fisheries sector is undergoing a broad-based transformation, with the government combining financial assistance, modern infrastructure, digital formalisation, insurance, sustainable fishing practices and export-oriented measures to strengthen fisher livelihoods and the wider seafood value chain.

A series of statements made by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Parliament on August 11-12 outlined the scale of government intervention under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

Fish Production Climbs to 197.75 Lakh Tonnes

India’s annual fish production has risen steadily from 147.25 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.

The increase underlines the expanding role of fisheries and aquaculture in food security, rural livelihoods, coastal economies and India’s seafood export industry.

₹21,584 Crore PMMSY Projects Approved

PMMSY, implemented since 2020-21 with a total outlay of ₹20,750 crore, supports fisheries infrastructure, aquaculture, fisher welfare and post-harvest activities.

The state-wise data provided to Parliament shows that projects worth ₹21,584.59 crore have been approved under the Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector components, with a Central share of ₹9,694.69 crore and Central funds released of ₹6,205.78 crore.

The PMMSY interventions include fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold storages, ice plants, transportation, fish markets, aquaculture units and livelihood assistance.

Among major beneficiary states, Tamil Nadu received approvals worth ₹1,236.21 crore, while Kerala received ₹1,329.63 crore, Karnataka ₹1,053.60 crore, Maharashtra ₹1,601.44 crore and Andhra Pradesh ₹2,328.89 crore.

Infrastructure Push Targets Cold Chain and Fish Marketing

The government has approved ₹2,797 crore for cold-chain and fish-marketing infrastructure across the country under PMMSY and FIDF.

The projects include:

• 775 cold storages and ice plants
• 28,489 fish transportation units
• 1,394 live fish vending units
• 6,018 fish kiosks
• 117 retail fish markets
• 24 wholesale fish markets

The infrastructure is intended to reduce post-harvest losses, improve fish quality and shelf life, and connect producers more efficiently with domestic and export markets.

The government has also approved 184 fishing harbour and fish landing centre projects under PMMSY and FIDF.

Focus on Coastal Fishermen and Fishing Harbours

During the last five years and 2026-27, PMMSY approved 28 fishing harbour development or modernisation projects, 25 fish landing centre projects and 23 dredging projects at a combined cost of ₹3,741.89 crore.

Under FIDF, another 94 fishing harbours and fish landing centres were approved at a total cost of ₹4,916.46 crore.

In Karnataka, modernisation projects include:

• Mangaluru Fishing Harbour – ₹37.47 crore
• Gangolli Fishing Harbour – ₹22.18 crore
• Malpe Fishing Harbour – ₹12.52 crore

The Mangaluru project includes upgraded fish landing and auction facilities, hygienic fish handling areas, sanitation, waste management and improved harbour utilities.

Digital Fisheries Platform Crosses 35 Lakh Registrations

The PM-MKSSY, implemented from 2023-24 to 2026-27 with an estimated outlay of ₹6,000 crore, is focused on formalising the fisheries sector and improving access to finance, insurance, technology and markets.

Its National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) had registered around 35.92 lakh fishers, fish farmers and other stakeholders as of August 6, 2026.

The scheme also supports:

• Aquaculture insurance
• Institutional credit
• Fisheries cooperatives
• Micro and small fisheries enterprises
• Value-chain efficiency
• Safe fish supply chains
• Job creation
• Digital formalisation

A total of 3,829 primary fisheries cooperatives had been approved for strengthening at a cost of ₹72.75 crore.

The government said 84 applications had been approved under the Performance Grant component, with eligible grants of ₹20.55 crore, of which ₹4.33 crore had been released to 21 beneficiaries.

Aquaculture Insurance and Enterprise Support

Under PM-MKSSY, farmers can receive a one-time incentive covering 40% of their aquaculture insurance premium, subject to prescribed ceilings.

The scheme provides up to ₹25,000 per hectare or ₹1 lakh per farmer for four hectares of water spread area. For intensive aquaculture systems such as cage culture, RAS, biofloc and raceways, the ceiling is linked to 1,800 cubic metres.

SC/ST and women beneficiaries receive an additional 10% incentive.

Microenterprises can also receive performance grants of up to 25% of investment or ₹35 lakh, whichever is lower, while SC, ST and women-owned enterprises can receive up to 35% or ₹45 lakh.

Access Pass Opens New Deep-Sea Fishing Opportunities

A new digital Access Pass issued through the ReALCRaft portal is being used to regulate fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone beyond 12 nautical miles.

As of August 5, 9,650 Access Passes had been issued.

Karnataka topped the list with 2,563 passes, followed by Gujarat with 2,524 and Andhra Pradesh with 1,952.

The system is linked with fisheries and maritime safety technologies, including satellite-based vessel transponders and the Nabhmitra application. Fishers can receive weather forecasts, potential fishing zone advisories, cyclone and tsunami warnings, navigation information and maritime boundary alerts.

The framework also supports traceability and export certification through linkages with MPEDA and the Export Inspection Council.

Seafood Exports Cross ₹73,000 Crore

Despite global trade uncertainties and tariff barriers, India’s marine product exports reached 19.72 lakh metric tonnes valued at ₹73,890 crore (US$8.46 billion) in 2025-26.

Exports were shipped to more than 128 countries.

The United States remained India’s largest market, followed by China, the European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East.

The share of value-added seafood products increased from 2% in 2013-14 to 11% in 2024-25, reflecting a gradual shift from commodity exports towards processed and higher-value products.

The government is promoting species such as seabass, cobia, pompano, mud crab, GIFT tilapia, grouper, black tiger shrimp, scampi and seaweed to diversify aquaculture and strengthen India’s export competitiveness.

Inland Fisheries Enter Export Focus

The government is also developing a roadmap to bring inland states and Union Territories more deeply into India’s seafood export value chain.

The proposed guidance focuses on:

• Quality assurance
• Traceability
• Post-harvest management
• Cold chains
• Value addition
• Market access
• Institutional coordination
• Capacity building

An innovative pilot project by ICAR-CIFRI and NFDB is testing drone-based transportation of live fish. The ₹116.85 lakh project aims to transport up to 100 kg of live fish over approximately 10 km while maintaining water quality, dissolved oxygen and temperature.

A 70-kg payload has already been successfully transported over 7 km as part of the pilot.

Support for Kerala Fishermen

Kerala has received fisheries development proposals worth ₹1,413.91 crore under PMMSY, including a Central share of ₹598.58 crore. Of this, ₹462.22 crore has been released.

The state has reported around 7,561 beneficiaries in Vadakara from activities including livelihood support during fishing bans, boats and nets, biofloc farming, RAS, ornamental aquaculture, fish kiosks and ice-box transportation units.

Kerala has also received approval for 13 FIDF projects worth ₹551.72 crore.

PMMSY interventions in Kerala include nine Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages, six Climate Resilient Coastal Fishing Villages, 20 deep-sea fishing vessels, 1,140 bivalve cultivation units, 468 fish transportation units and 42 artificial reef projects.

Andhra Pradesh Aqua Farmers Face Price and Input-Cost Pressure

Andhra Pradesh has approximately 2.16 lakh aquaculture farmers covering around 5.79 lakh acres of freshwater and brackish-water aquaculture.

Farmers are facing pressure from declining market prices and rising feed costs. The state government reported that shrimp feed manufacturers agreed to reduce prices by ₹4 per kg.

Registered aqua farmers are also receiving electricity at a subsidised rate of ₹1.50 per unit.

At the national level, customs duties on 16 key aquaculture inputs were rationalised in the Union Budgets 2024-25 and 2025-26, while GST rates on more than 20 fisheries and aquaculture-related products were reduced to 5% in September 2025, according to the government.

Tackling Post-Harvest Losses and Bycatch

A government study conducted through the National Productivity Council estimated marine fisheries post-harvest losses in Karnataka at 6.21%-10.13%. Karnataka government data citing ICAR-CIFT puts the loss at around 6%.

ICAR-CMFRI studies have estimated marine fisheries bycatch at around 20%-40%, depending on fishing gear and craft.

PMMSY is therefore supporting cold chains, modern landing infrastructure, transportation and hygienic fish handling, while promoting measures such as 35-mm square-mesh cod-end trawl nets and Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).

Traditional Fishing Rights and Sustainability

The government has reiterated protection for traditional fishing communities in near-shore waters. Coastal States regulate fishing up to 12 nautical miles through their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts, with several states reserving near-shore zones for artisanal and non-mechanised fishing.

The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025 also introduce conservation measures including minimum legal fish sizes, bycatch reduction, restrictions on destructive fishing and measures to reduce post-harvest losses.

A uniform 61-day annual fishing ban is implemented in India’s EEZ during the peak breeding season, with livelihood and nutritional support provided to eligible traditional fisher families during the ban and lean period.

PMMSY is additionally supporting artificial reefs, sea ranching, seaweed cultivation, open-sea cage culture and 100 Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages.

What This Means for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism

The government’s fisheries push has implications beyond fishing communities and seafood exports.

For hospitality: Expanded cold chains, better fish handling and stronger traceability can improve the availability and consistency of quality seafood for hotels, resorts and restaurants.

For coastal tourism: Modern fishing harbours and climate-resilient coastal villages could support cleaner, better-managed waterfront destinations while strengthening local livelihoods.

For culinary tourism: Greater value addition and traceability can create opportunities for regional seafood experiences, local food trails and destination-led culinary offerings.

For seafood supply chains: Improved transportation, processing and export infrastructure could make Indian seafood more competitive while strengthening domestic links between fishing communities, markets, restaurants and hospitality businesses.

Overall, the latest announcements point towards a fisheries strategy that is moving beyond production growth towards a more integrated ecosystem covering fisher welfare, infrastructure, sustainability, technology, value addition and global seafood markets.