On 28th April 2025, the “Coastal States Fisheries Meet: 2025” was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra, under the chairmanship of Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D), and Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR).
- The event saw participation from Union Minister of State (MoS) Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, MoFAH&D, MoPR, and Union MoS George Kurian, MoFAH&D, Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), Governors, and Fisheries Ministers of 7 coastal states/Union Territories (UTs).
Key Inititives Launched:
During the event, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh inaugurated and laid the foundation for fisheries projects worth Rs. 255.30 crore 7 coastal states/Union Territories (UTs) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), benefiting 7 coastal states and UTs.
- He also launched the 5th Marine Fisheries Census (MFC 2025), Guidelines on Turtle Excluder Device and release of Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) for Vessel Communication and Support System.
- He also distributed tablets enabled with Digital Application Vyas-NAV (Village Jetty Appraisal NAVigator) and awarded the first ever aqua insurance (One Time Incentive Sanction-cum-Release Order) to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) on this occasion.
Note: The VyAS-NAV mobile App, developed by the Kochi (Kerala) based Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), will be utilized for geo-referenced data collection, enhancing transparency and efficiency.
About 5th Marine Fisheries Census 2025:
i.The 5th Marine Fisheries Census (MFC 2025) was launched, introducing a digital approach for data collection. The census aims to cover approximately 1.2 million fisher households across 3,500 villages in 9 coastal states by December 2025.
ii.The 5th Marine Fisheries Census is being coordinated by the Department of Fisheries(DoF) under the MoFAH&D.
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) serves as the nodal agency responsible for implementing the census across the nine coastal states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu(TN), Andhra Pradesh(AP), Odisha, and West Bengal(WB).
iii.The census will take place from April 2025 to December 2025. It will encompass marine fishing villages, marine fish landing centers, and 1.2 million households across nine coastal states.
Note: The 4th Marine Fisheries Census was conducted in 2016.
About the Marine Census in India
i.First Census (1980): Carried out by CMFRI, covering all coastal states except Maharashtra, where the state government conducted its census in 1979.
ii.Second Census (2005): Conducted by CMFRI with support from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DAHDF), GoI, covering all maritime states and 2 UTs.
iii.Third Census (2010): Joint initiative by CMFRI and DAHDF, expanding coverage to all 9 coastal states and 2 UTs.
iv.Fourth Census (2016): Conducted jointly by CMFRI and DAHDF, maintaining coverage of 9 coastal states and 2 UTs.
2.Aqua Insurance under PM-MKSSY:
i.The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), a sub-scheme under PMMSY, introduced aqua insurance to provide financial protection to aquaculture farmers.
ii.Eligible beneficiaries, including registered aquafarmers and related entities, can receive a one-time incentive covering 40% of the insurance premium, up to Rs.1 lakh per farmer for 1800 cubic meters (m^3).
iii.Additionally, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and women beneficiaries are eligible for an extra 10% incentive, further promoting inclusivity.
iv.The insurance covers one crop cycle, mitigating risks from natural calamities and diseases.
Note: According to the Marine Fisheries Census 2016 conducted by ICAR-CMFRI, Odisha recorded the highest number of fishing villages with 739 villages, followed by Tamil Nadu (TN) with 575 villages, and Andhra Pradesh (AP) with 533 villages.
About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):
i.The Department of Fisheries (DoF), MoFAHD, implemented Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to foster a Blue Revolution through the sustainable development of India’s fisheries.
ii.It aims to bring ecologically healthy, economically viable, and socially inclusive development of the fisheries sector of India.
iii.The scheme was launched in all the states and UTs for five years from Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs. 20,050 crore.
iv.Union Budget for FY 2025-26 allocated Rs. 2,465 crore for PMMSY and the highest ever total annual budgetary support of Rs. 2,703.67 crores for the fisheries sector.
About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY):
i.PM-MKSSY is a sub-Scheme under PMMSY, launched to formalize the fisheries sector and support micro and small enterprises.
ii.Rs.6000 crore investment was allocated of 4 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27).
