India, Dec. 4 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is implementing a flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), aimed at the all-round development of the fisheries sector and enhancing the welfare of fishermen and fish farmers. A major objective of PMMSY is to empower traditional and small-scale fishermen for deep-sea fishing. Under PMMSY, financial assistance is provided to traditional fishermen for the acquisition of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) as well as for upgrading existing fishing vessels for export potential.
Adopting a "whole of government approach," the Department of Fisheries, Government of India , is collaborating with the Ministry of Cooperation through a Joint Working Group (JWG) to promote the participation of small-scale fishermen in deep-sea fishing, value-chain development, processing , and export . The Ministry of Cooperation supports this initiative by strengthening cooperative institutions and facilitating access to cooperative credit through the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). In Maharashtra, NDCD has provided assistance to 14 DSFVs with a total project cost of Rs.20.30 crore, which includes loan assistance of Rs.11.55 crore from NCDC, assistance of Rs.6.72 crore from PMMSY, and contribution of Rs.2.03 crore from the society. Following this model, two fishermen's societies in Mumbai city recently received two DSFVs under the PMMSY on 27.10.2025. This initiative is a perfect example of cooperative-based development in the fisheries sector that empowers traditional fishermen to access deeper waters, and ensures India moves towards more sustainable and economically viable marine harvesting practices. This system complements the government's efforts to provide small-scale fishermen, societies, and cooperatives with access to credit support, new technology, training, and insurance to acquire and operate modern DSFVs and set up processing facilities.
(c): For the overall development of fisheries and welfare of fishermen and fish farmers, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is being implemented with the highest ever investment of Rs.20,050 crore since the financial year 2020-21. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is also implementing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total corpus of Rs.7522.48 crore since 2018-19. The Government of India has, inter alia, approved the credit guarantee facility under FIDF when it is extended for a period of 3 years (from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26).
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) inter-alia envisages assistance for livelihood strengthening activities such as providing boats and nets to traditional fishermen, assistance for communication and tracking devices, providing marine safety kits, insurance cover to fishermen, assistance for acquisition of deep sea fishing vessels, alternative/additional livelihood activities like seaweed cultivation and bivalve culture, training and skill development, support for cold-chain and marketing facilities, etc. Besides, the scheme also includes construction of fishing harbours and fish landing centres to ensure safe landing and berthing of fishing boats/vessels. Whereas, FIDF inter-alia, provides concessional finance to eligible entities/Eligible Entities (EEs) including State Governments/Union Territories and State Units for development of various fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure facilities including identified fisheries infrastructure including fishing harbours and fish landing centres, deep sea fishing vessels, cold chain facilities, fish markets and construction of mariculture units and its allied activities to support coastal livelihood empowerment, fish export enhancement and sustainable resource management.
This information was given by Fisheries , Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh in response to a question asked in the Rajya Sabha .
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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
