The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) is committed towards sustainable management of fisheries and gives high emphasis towards addressing climate change and its impacts.  The fisheries research institutes under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Government of India have been conducting regular research for understanding the impacts of climate change in order to develop climate resilient strategies for sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture.

The DoF, GoI has been taking several initiates towards holistic development of fisheries sector with major emphasis on strengthening the livelihood of fishers. The major initiatives towards this include Blue Revolution Scheme implemented during 2015-16 to 2019-20, provision of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fisheries and creation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) enabling concessional financing in fisheries. In 2020, Government of India approved a flagship scheme -Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) at a total investment of Rs. 20050 crore for holistic development of fisheries sector for implementation in all the States and Union Territories of India including Karnataka for a period of 5(five) years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.

During last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25) under PMMSY, the DoF, GoI has accorded approval to the fisheries developmental proposals of Government of Karnataka amounting to Rs. 1056.34 crore. The activities approved under PMMSY inter alia included promotion of marine and inland fisheries activities for welfare of fishers & fish farmers in Karnataka including Dakshina Kannada namely assistance for acquisition of deep sea fishing vessels, upgradation of existing fishing vessels for export competency, safety kits to fishers, livelihood and nutritional support to fishers during fish ban, communication devices onboard the fishing vessels, installation of artificial reefs along the coast towards conservation. In addition, activities towards promotion of aquaculture through establishment of hatcheries, area expansion for aquaculture, brackishwater aquaculture, ornamental fish rearing units, seaweed cultivation, bivalve cultivation, cage culture in reservoirs, Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) & biofloc culture are also approved. The PMMSY is implemented through respective State Governments/Union Territories and the beneficiary identification and selection is done by the State Governments/Union Territory as per the guidelines of the scheme.

Under PMMSY, interventions are aimed at optimal harnessing of unrealized potential areas including seaweed cultivation. The Department of Fisheries, GoI, under PMMSY has approved various seaweed projects consisting of seaweed cultivation through rafts, monoline, establishment of seaweed aquapark, seaweed banks and Research & Development projects of various State/Union Territories & research institutes. This also includes 10,000 seaweed rafts and 21,000 Monoline/tube nets approved for seaweed cultivation in Karnataka. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has informed that 24,000 ha of suitable area along the Indian coast has been identified for seaweed farming which includes 1579 ha for Karnataka covering 14 locations. Government of Karnataka has informed that most of the area identified by ICAR  for seaweed cultivation are in Uttara Kannada and no such area are suitable for seaweed cultivation in Dakshina Kannada.

Government of Karnataka has informed that at present there is no proposal for establishing a separate fisheries university in Mangalore before the State Government.

This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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