PMMSY, PM-MKSSY and NFDP strengthen fisheries infrastructure, finance, insurance, traceability and market access as India expands its seafood value chain

New Delhi, August 24, 2026: India is stepping up efforts to modernise its fisheries and aquaculture sector through a combination of digitalisation, infrastructure investment, financial assistance, export promotion and welfare measures for fishers and aquaculture farmers.

A series of developments announced by the Department of Fisheries in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in August highlights the expanding role of schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), alongside the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and new measures for deep-sea fishing and seafood exports.

Key Highlights

• 35.85 lakh fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other fisheries stakeholders are registered on the National Fisheries Digital Platform.
• PM-MKSSY has an estimated outlay of ₹6,000 crore for 2023-24 to 2026-27.
• PMMSY has a total outlay of ₹20,750 crore for fisheries and aquaculture development.
• India exported 19.72 lakh metric tonnes of marine products worth ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26.
• Seafood exports reached 128+ countries, with the US remaining the largest market.
• 9,650 Access Passes have been issued for fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
• PMMSY and FIDF have supported extensive cold-chain, transportation, fishing harbour and fish-market infrastructure.
• PM-MKSSY provides incentives for aquaculture insurance, institutional credit, value addition and employment generation.

Digitalisation Emerges as a Key Driver

The National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), launched under PM-MKSSY in September 2024, is emerging as a central digital ecosystem for the fisheries sector.

The platform creates work-based digital identities for stakeholders and is designed to improve access to institutional credit, aquaculture insurance, cooperative support, performance incentives, traceability and capacity-building programmes.

According to the latest government update, 35.85 lakh stakeholders have registered on NFDP.

Twelve nationalised banks have also been onboarded for the credit component. Applications received through the platform are forwarded to banks, while eligible beneficiaries can receive financial assistance of up to ₹5,000 for successful loans.

Importantly, the government clarified that Kisan Credit Card applications are still processed and approved by banks through their core banking systems rather than directly through NFDP.

PM-MKSSY Expands Support for Aquaculture

PM-MKSSY, being implemented from FY2023-24 to FY2026-27, is designed to formalise the fisheries sector and strengthen its value chain.

The scheme provides a one-time incentive of 40% of the aquaculture insurance premium, subject to prescribed ceilings. For conventional aquaculture, the support can reach ₹25,000 per hectare or ₹1 lakh per farmer for four hectares of water spread area.

For intensive systems such as cage culture, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), biofloc and raceways, the incentive can reach ₹1 lakh per farmer for 1,800 cubic metres.

SC/ST and women beneficiaries are eligible for an additional 10% incentive.

The scheme also provides performance grants to microenterprises, Village Level Organisations, Self-Help Group federations, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and fisheries cooperatives for improving value-chain efficiency and establishing supply chains for safe fish products.

As of August 6, 2026, 3,829 primary fisheries cooperatives had been approved for strengthening, while 84 applications had been approved under the performance grant component with eligible assistance of ₹20.55 crore.

Infrastructure Investment Strengthens the Seafood Supply Chain

Government-backed fisheries programmes are also expanding India’s post-harvest infrastructure.

Under PMMSY and FIDF, approvals include:

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

The transportation infrastructure includes motorcycles, bicycles, auto-rickshaws, insulated trucks and refrigerated trucks equipped to maintain fish quality.

The government has separately approved proposals worth around ₹2,797 crore for cold-chain and marketing infrastructure across India.

These investments are intended to reduce post-harvest losses, extend shelf life, improve price realisation and connect production centres with processing and consumption markets.

Technology Moves into Fish Logistics

An emerging area is the use of drones for live-fish transportation.

ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), in collaboration with the National Fisheries Development Board, is conducting a pilot project to assess drone-based transportation of live fish.

The ₹116.85 lakh project aims to develop a system capable of carrying up to 100 kg of live fish over approximately 10 km while maintaining water quality, dissolved oxygen and temperature.

A demonstration has already transported a 70-kg payload over 7 km.

If successfully scaled, such technology could eventually help reduce transportation time for high-value live fish between production centres, markets and processing hubs.

India’s Seafood Export Ambitions Gain Momentum

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

The government is simultaneously trying to move the industry towards greater value addition. The share of value-added seafood in exports increased from 2% in 2013-14 to 11% in 2024-25.

India’s seafood is currently exported to more than 128 countries, with the US, China, the European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East among the key markets.

Export promotion measures include international trade fairs, Buyer-Seller Meets, Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets, trade delegations, market consultations and collaboration with Indian Missions abroad.

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

Access Pass Opens India’s EEZ to Greater Deep-Sea Fishing Opportunities

A new digital framework is also expanding regulated access to India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends from 12 to 200 nautical miles.

The free Access Pass, issued through the ReALCRaft portal, is required for mechanised fishing vessels and large motorised boats over 24 metres, while traditional non-motorised and small artisanal crafts remain exempt.

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

Karnataka accounted for the highest number at 2,563, followed by Gujarat with 2,524 and Andhra Pradesh with 1,952.

The system is integrated with MPEDA and the Export Inspection Council to facilitate catch and health certification, traceability and eco-labelling.

It is also linked with satellite-based vessel transponders and the Nabhmitra application, providing fishers with weather forecasts, Potential Fishing Zone advisories, cyclone and tsunami alerts, navigation information and emergency communication.

Focus on Traditional Fishers and Coastal Livelihoods

The government is simultaneously strengthening safeguards for traditional fishing communities.

Coastal States regulate fisheries within 12 nautical miles under their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts, with several States reserving near-shore zones for artisanal and non-mechanised fishing.

PMMSY also provides livelihood and nutritional support during fishing-ban periods, accidental insurance coverage and measures aimed at improving fish stocks.

The government has introduced Artificial Reefs and Sea Ranching under PMMSY, while promoting seaweed cultivation and open-sea cage culture to reduce pressure on near-shore fisheries.

A separate initiative seeks to develop 100 Coastal Fishermen Villages as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages, combining infrastructure development with livelihood opportunities.

Reducing Post-Harvest Losses and Bycatch

Post-harvest efficiency remains another major focus.

A government study estimated marine fisheries post-harvest losses in Karnataka at 6.21% to 10.13%, while State-reported ICAR-CIFT studies put the figure at around 6%.

ICAR-CMFRI studies cited by Karnataka indicated bycatch levels of approximately 20%-40%, depending on the fishing gear and craft used.

Modernisation of fishing harbours is therefore being linked with better fish handling and reduced losses. The ₹37.47-crore modernisation of Mangaluru Fishing Harbour, for example, includes upgraded landing, auction, sanitation, waste-management and fish-handling facilities.

Similar projects have been approved for Gangolli and Malpe fishing harbours.

Andhra Pradesh Aquaculture Faces Market and Input-Cost Pressure

The expansion of aquaculture is also accompanied by challenges.

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

Farmers have reported pressure from declining market prices and rising feed costs. The State has coordinated with feed manufacturers, resulting in a reported ₹4-per-kg reduction in shrimp feed prices.

Registered aquaculture 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.

Chhattisgarh Shows Growth in Inland Fisheries

The fisheries push extends well beyond coastal States.

In Chhattisgarh, PMMSY projects worth ₹956.86 crore, including a Central share of ₹321.01 crore, were approved during 2020-21 to 2025-26.

Projects include:

• 28 fish seed hatcheries
• 3,200 hectares of new fish ponds
• 287 RAS units
• 820 biofloc units
• 14 fish feed mills
• 511 small fish transportation vehicles
• 8,500 reservoir cages
• One Integrated Aqua Park

Fish production in the State increased from 3.14 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 8.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25, according to the government.

Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Impact

The fisheries sector’s transformation has implications well beyond primary production.

For hospitality and foodservice: Better cold-chain infrastructure, quality certification and traceability can improve the consistency and safety of seafood supplied to hotels, restaurants, resorts and institutional kitchens.

For culinary tourism: Greater availability of high-value and region-specific seafood could support destination-led culinary experiences, coastal seafood trails, seafood festivals and local gastronomy initiatives.

For coastal tourism: Modern fishing harbours and climate-resilient coastal villages could create opportunities to integrate fishing communities into responsible tourism, while improved waste management can support cleaner waterfront destinations.

For seafood exports: Greater value addition, processing and international certification can strengthen India’s position as a global seafood supplier, creating opportunities for export-oriented processing clusters and hospitality supply chains.

For inland destinations: Expansion of aquaculture, Integrated Aqua Parks and improved fish markets could also support rural tourism, farm-based experiences and local food economies in inland States.

Bottom Line

India’s fisheries policy is increasingly moving from a production-focused approach towards an integrated seafood economy covering digital identities, finance, insurance, aquaculture, cold chains, processing, traceability, deep-sea fishing and exports.

For the hospitality and tourism industry, the biggest opportunity lies in connecting this growing seafood ecosystem with premium foodservice, regional cuisine, culinary tourism and sustainable coastal experiences.