PM Modi chairs meeting to boost fisheries production, exports

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the progress and future plans of the fisheries sector with focus on deep sea fishing and sea food exports.

Fisheries and aquaculture sectors are critical to India’s economy and ambitions to rise to USD 5 trillion. These sectors provide livelihoods to approximately 3 crore fishers and fish farmers.

Currently, India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing eight per cent to global output, ranks second in aquaculture production, leads in shrimp production and export, and is the third-largest producer in capture fisheries.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, principal secretary to PM Shanktikanta Das, among other top PMO officials.

Secretary Fisheries Abhilaksh Likhi made a presentation during the review.

India is the sixth largest marine capture fish producer (1/3rd production being marine) and has immense potential to boost production and exports on account of 13 coastal states and UTs, 11,099 km coastline and exclusive economic zone of 2.20 million sq km.

Since 2015, the government has committed 38,572 crore through key initiatives such as the Blue Revolution Scheme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and its sub-scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), to drive sustainable growth and development in the sector.

"USD 4,437 million of targeted investment has been made in the sector since 2014-15. The Blue Revolution scheme has received RSD 746 million between 2015 and 2020, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund has received USD 1,074 million between 2018 and 2023; PM Matsya Sampada Yojna 2,770 million from 2020 to now," said officials.

The Government in February 2019 created a separate Department of Fisheries and in June 2019, a new Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for holistic development of this important sector.

Recently, the Department of Fisheries notified 17 Fisheries Production and Processing Clusters across the country under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to boost the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector.

These clusters include Coldwater Fisheries Cluster in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, Saline Water Aquaculture Cluster in Sirsa, Haryana, Reservoir Fisheries Cluster in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Tilapia Cluster in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Wetland Fisheries Cluster in Siwan, Bihar, Pangasius Cluster in Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Scampi Cluster in Balasore, Odisha, Brackish Water Aquaculture Cluster in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, Sea Cage Cluster in Uttar Kannada, Karnataka, Murrel Cluster in Mancherial, Telangana, Pearl Spot Cluster in Kollam, Kerala, Fishing Harbour Cluster in Gir Somnath, Gujarat, Pearl Culture Cluster Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, Ornamental Fisheries Cluster Madurai  Tamil Nadu, Seaweed Cluster, UT of  Lakshadweep, Tuna Cluster,  Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Organic Cluster in  Soreng, Sikkim.

The Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), in collaboration with the district administration, will handhold these clusters by engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, including individual fishers, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), fish farmers, processors, transporters, vendors, cooperatives, fishery start-ups and other entities, ensuring holistic development and efficient management of the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.