The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, recognizing the potential of fisheries sector, since 2015, has substantially stepped-up investments in fisheries sector through schemes worth Rs. 38,572 crore for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture and welfare of fishermen in the country including in West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The schemes include, (i) Blue Revolution Scheme implemented from FY2015-16 to 2019-20 with central outlay of Rs 3,000 crore helped in mobilizing of a total investment of Rs. 5,000 crore,  (ii) Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund implemented from FY2018-19 with a fund size of Rs. 7,522.48 crore, (iii) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented from FY2020-21 to 2024-25 with an investment of Rs. 20,050 crore, (iv) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY) implemented from the FY2023-24 to 2026-27 with a total outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore an. In addition, the Government of India has also extended the facility of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the  last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current year(2024-25) has accorded approvals to the fisheries developmental proposals of various State Governments, Union Territories and other implementation agencies amounting to Rs.20,990.79 crore with central share of Rs.8926.28 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country.   This includes (i) proposals of Government of West Bengal approved at a cost of Rs.544.39 crore with central share of Rs.225.55 crore and (ii) proposals of Andaman & Nicobar Administration approved at a cost of Rs.58.67 crore with central share of Rs.31.23 crore under PMMSY. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampadha Yojana (PMMSY) inter-alia provides adoption of a cluster-based approach to enhance the competitiveness of the fisheries sector, facilitate economies of scale, generate higher incomes, accelerate the growth, expansion of fisheries and aquaculture in an organized manner in cluster based approach. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has issued the “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Production and Processing Clusters in Fisheries Sector” to all the State Governments and Union Territories for implementation of clusters in various field of fisheries and aquaculture under PMMSY. The States and UTs have been advised to implement the clusters based approach for development of fisheries and aquaculture. Based on the request received from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, development of Tuna fisheries cluster in Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been notified under PMMSY.

The 'National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 notified by the Government of India, provides guiding principles of conservation and optimum utilization of fisheries resources for ensuring sustainability. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, as a conservation measure, has been implementing fishing ban in India’s EEZ along the east and west coasts annually during the major breeding season of the commercial fish species. On the east coast, including the coasts of West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar, the fishing ban is implemented annually from 15^th April to 15^th June. The States and UTs, through their Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, also regulates fishing activities in the state's and UT’s territorial waters to support the sustainable management of fisheries. In addition, 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.

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 25th March, 2025.

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