Enhancing Infrastructure and Institutional Capacity in the Fisheries Sector

The Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025 took place on April 28, 2025, in Mumbai, where the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, inaugurated and laid the groundwork for significant projects throughout seven coastal states and Union Territories, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). These efforts, requiring a total expenditure of Rs. 255 crore (US$ 29.1 million) are directed towards enhancing infrastructure and strengthening institutions. A national implementation strategy is in progress to outfit 1,00,000 marine fishing boats in 13 coastal states and Union Territories with locally developed transponders, backed by a budget of Rs. 364 crore (US$ 41.6 million). Currently, 33,674 transponders have been set up to improve communication and safety for vessels at sea. To resolve inter-state fishing conflicts, the Department of Fisheries has formed three Regional Fisheries Management Councils (RFMCs): Western, Eastern, and Southern, co-chaired by Ms. Neetu Prasad, the Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries) at the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, along with state-level fisheries secretaries in an annual rotation. The Government of Gujarat has revised the Fisheries Act of 2003 to create a specific Gujarat State Fisheries Harbour and Aquaculture Development Authority. Simultaneously, the Marine Fisheries Census 2025 has commenced in partnership with ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), encompassing 13 coastal states and Union Territories. The digital census using an app seeks to catalog marine fisher households, vessels, equipment, and associated infrastructure, with Gujarat focusing on 70,000 households in 280 fishing villages across 15 coastal districts, aided by digital tools such as VyAS-NAV.