The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying organized the “Coastal States Meet 2025” in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event was chaired by the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Launch of Major Initiatives
- Foundation laid for key projects in 7 coastal states and Union Territories under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an outlay of ₹255 crores.
- Key initiatives launched:
- 5th Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) Operations.
- PMMSY Guidelines on Turtle Excluder Device.
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS).
- First ever Aquaculture Insurance (One Time Incentive Sanction-cum-Release Order) awarded to beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
Technical Sessions Covered
- Strengthening Marine Fisheries Governance:
- Integration of Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts (MFRAs).
- Focus on Monitoring, Control & Surveillance (MCS).
- Sea Safety protocols.
- Model Mariculture SOPs.
- Export Promotion:
- Processing, value chain, quality improvements.
- Promotion of traceability and certification in marine capture fisheries.
- Distribution of tablets enabled with VyAS-NAV digital application.
VyAS-NAV APP: 5th Marine Fisheries Census Goes Digital
- Mobile app launched: VyAS-NAV (developed by ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute [CMFRI]).
- Purpose: To enable digital, geo-referenced data collection covering 1.2 million fisher households nationwide.
- Shift from traditional to real-time validation system.
- Supervisors will use VyAS-NAV for:
- Verifying fishing villages, landing centres, fishing harbours.
- Recording village-level summary data from primary and secondary sources.
- Supervisors deployed from CMFRI, Fishery Survey of India, and Fisheries Departments.
- Coverage: Every marine fisher family, fishing village, fishing craft, gear, infrastructure at harbours and landing centres.
- Census operations include:
- Supervisor training.
- Enumerator recruitment and training.
- Data collection across 3 months, to be completed by December 2025.
About Aquaculture Insurance (PM-MKSSY)
- Sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- India’s first-ever aquaculture insurance for fishers and aquafarmers.
- Focus: Mitigating risks for small and marginal farmers.
- Operated via National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) for digital access and tracking.
Eligibility: Registered aquafarmers, firms, companies, societies, cooperatives, Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and other entities identified by the Department of Fisheries.
Insurance Features:
| Type | Coverage |
| Basic Insurance | Losses due to natural calamities, parametric risks. |
| Comprehensive Insurance | Basic + Disease coverage. |
- Premium capped: ₹1 lakh per farmer for 1800 m³ intensive aquaculture systems (e.g., recirculatory systems).
- Additional 10% incentive for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women beneficiaries.
- Covers one crop cycle to stabilize income and promote investment.
Significance:
- First-time targeted financial protection for aquafarmers.
- Promotes insurance penetration, formalization, risk mitigation, income stability in fisheries.
- Supports marginalized communities in fisheries sector.
India’s Fisheries Sector
| Parameter | Details |
| Coastline | Over 7,500 km |
| EEZ | 2.02 million sq. km |
| Marine fisheries potential | 5.31 million tonnes |
| Fishing villages | 3,477 |
| Share in fish production | Coastal states contribute ~72% |
| Share in seafood exports | Coastal states contribute ~76% |
India’s Fisheries Status (2023):
- 3rd largest fish producer globally.
- 2nd largest aquaculture nation (after China).
- 4th in fish exports globally (7.7% of world production).
- Top fish-producing states: Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka.
- Maharashtra granted agriculture status to fisheries sector.
Key Government Initiatives for India’s Fisheries:
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for fishers.
- Marine Products Export Development Authority.