National Integrated Policy for Fishing Community

What Happened

The Department of Fisheries affirmed in Parliament that it is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) as the flagship scheme for a "Blue Revolution" through sustainable and responsible fisheries development.
The Union Budget 2026–27 earmarked ₹2,500 crore for the fisheries sector under PMMSY, signalling continued government commitment to the blue economy.
A sub-scheme, PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), was launched to formalize the fisheries sector with ₹6,000 crore earmarked over FY 2023–24 to FY 2026–27.
The government highlighted employment generation, post-harvest loss reduction, and doubling of fishers' incomes as core objectives of an integrated fishing community policy.

Static Topic Bridges

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Architecture and Targets

PMMSY was formally launched on September 10, 2020, as a flagship scheme under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Implemented over FY 2020–21 to FY 2024–25 with a total investment of ₹20,050 crore — the largest ever in the fisheries sector — the scheme operates through a hub-and-spoke model covering marine, inland, and aquaculture fisheries. It has a Central Sector component and a Centrally Sponsored component (with Centre-state cost sharing).

Total outlay: ₹20,050 crore (FY 2020–21 to 2024–25)
Fish production target: 220 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) by 2024–25 (from 137.58 LMT in 2018–19), implying ~9% CAGR
India's global rank: 2nd largest fish producer globally, contributing ~8% of total global fish production
Post-harvest loss reduction target: 20–25% → 10%
Employment target: 55 lakh additional direct and indirect jobs
Sub-scheme PM-MKSSY: ₹6,000 crore over FY 2023–24 to 2026–27 for formalising micro and small fisheries enterprises

Connection to this news: The parliamentary statement affirming PMMSY as the vehicle for "National Integrated Policy for Fishing Community" draws directly from the scheme's mandate and architecture.

Blue Economy: Constitutional and Policy Framework

India's Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources including fisheries, marine biotechnology, shipping, coastal tourism, and offshore energy. The government's Blue Economy Policy (2021 draft) envisages leveraging India's 7,517 km coastline, 2.02 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and 1,382 islands. The Ministry of Earth Sciences anchors Blue Economy research while the Ministry of Fisheries handles the productive economy component.

India's coastline: 7,517 km (9 coastal states and 4 UTs)
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 2.02 million sq km
Fisheries contribution to GDP: ~1% of national GDP, ~6.72% of agriculture GVA
Fishers and fish farmers covered: ~28 million livelihoods depend on the sector
Inland fisheries share: ~~60% of India's total fish production comes from inland sources
Blue Economy Policy draft (2021): 7 thematic areas — fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, shipping, deep-sea mining, seabed minerals, coastal security

Connection to this news: The "Blue Revolution" language used in PMMSY directly borrows from the Blue Economy framework, which sees fisheries as a high-growth engine for coastal livelihoods.

Fishing communities in India are classified as among the most vulnerable occupational groups, facing risks from sea weather, fluctuating catches, and lack of formal credit access. The government's integrated policy framework includes the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), KCC extension to fishers, and the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). Social safety nets include insurance schemes such as Group Accident Insurance Scheme for active fishermen (₹5 lakh cover).

FIDF: ₹7,522 crore fund for fisheries infrastructure (ice plants, cold chains, fishing harbours)
KCC for fishers: extended with ₹2 lakh working capital limit
Group Accident Insurance: ₹5 lakh death/permanent disability cover; ₹2.5 lakh for partial disability
NFDB established: 2006, Hyderabad (apex body for fisheries development)
Sagarmala programme: supports fishing harbour development under Ministry of Ports

Connection to this news: The "National Integrated Policy for Fishing Community" is explicitly aimed at delivering both productive (PMMSY) and protective (insurance, KCC, NFDB) benefits to this vulnerable occupational group.

Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries: Legal Framework

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Act, 1972, and the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005, provide the legislative framework for regulated fisheries growth. Inland fisheries fall under the Concurrent List (Entry 17 — fisheries within territorial waters) and State List for rivers and lakes, making centre-state coordination essential. PMMSY's Centrally Sponsored Component requires matching state contributions.

MPEDA established under MPEDA Act, 1972 — regulates marine product exports
Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005: regulates shrimp/prawn farming near coastal areas
Constitutional placement: Fisheries in territorial waters — Concurrent List; rivers/lakes — State List
India's fish exports: ~14 lakh MT valued at ₹60,523 crore in FY 2022–23
Top export destinations: USA, China, Southeast Asia, EU

Connection to this news: The integrated fisheries policy involves multiple legal and administrative tiers that Parliament scrutinises through schemes like PMMSY, making this a recurring GS2/GS3 topic.

Key Facts & Data

PMMSY total investment: ₹20,050 crore (2020–21 to 2024–25)
Fish production target: 220 LMT by 2024–25 (up from 137.58 LMT in 2018–19)
Union Budget 2026–27 fisheries allocation: ₹2,500 crore under PMMSY
PM-MKSSY sub-scheme outlay: ₹6,000 crore (FY 2023–24 to 2026–27)
Post-harvest loss reduction target: 25% → 10%
Additional employment target: 55 lakh jobs
India's rank in global fish production: 2nd (contributes ~8% of global output)
Fisheries as share of agriculture GVA: ~6.72%