By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total outlay of Rs. 20,750 crore from the financial year 2020-21 to till date for the development of fisheries sector in all States/Union Territories including the state of Odisha. The scheme inter-alia provides for the development of infrastructure for fisheries development like fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold chain facilities and other marine fisheries infrastructure.
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has approved projects worth Rs 1086.51 Crore with a central share as Rs 416.84 Crore to the state Odisha ; the details of which are placed at Annexure-I. The Department has also approved the modernisation of Paradip Fishing Harbour at a total cost of Rs. 108.91 crore under the Central Sector component of PMMSY. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been also implementing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) since 2018-19 to address the infrastructure requirements of the fisheries sector. Under FIDF, the Government of India provides interest subvention of up to 3% on the admissible project cost. Under the scheme, the Department has so far approved 13 fisheries infrastructure projects, including Fishing Harbours, Fish Landing Centres, Fish Processing Units and Fish Markets in Odisha at a total project cost of ₹784.32 crore, with an interest subvention-eligible project cost of ₹286.39 crore.
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) provides livelihood and nutritional support to eligible socio-economically backward active traditional marine fisher families belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category during the annual Uniform Fishing Ban period from. Further, PMMSY also supports the welfare and livelihood enhancement of traditional marine fishers through interventions such as accidental insurance, acquisition of fishing boats and nets, upgradation of fishing vessels for deep-sea fishing, mariculture activities including sea cage farming, seaweed cultivation, ornamental fish farming and pearl farming, deployment of artificial reefs, training and capacity building for adoption of modern and sustainable fishing practices.In addition, the Government of Odisha has reported that, under the Mukhyamantri Maschyajibi Kalyan Yojana (MMKY), a State Sector Scheme, livelihood assistance of ₹15,000 is provided to each eligible marine fisherman family during the annual turtle conservation fishing ban period from 1 November to 31 May to compensate for the loss of livelihood and support marine fishermen residing in the notified fishing ban areas.
The Government of Odisha has reported that the following measures have been taken to improve deep-sea fishing, value addition and export competitiveness in the State such as Promotion of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) with financial assistance under PMMSY and the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY), Launch of the State Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026–2036) to promote offshore fishing, modern fishing technologies, tuna fisheries, mariculture and Blue Economy initiatives, Development and modernization of fishing harbours, fish landing centres, ice plants, cold storages, insulated and refrigerated transport vehicles, and fish kiosks under PMMSY to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access, Promotion of value addition through hygienic fish handling, processing, packaging and strengthening of cold chain infrastructure, Capacity building and training of fishers on deep-sea fishing techniques, onboard fish handling, navigation, safety at sea and sustainable fishing practices, Installation of Transponder-based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) in mechanized fishing vessels to enhance safety, monitoring and regulatory compliance, Promotion of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and other responsible fishing practices for sustainable marine fisheries management, Facilitation of market linkages and export-oriented fisheries infrastructure in coordination with agencies such as MPEDA, NFDB and the State Fisheries Department to improve the export competitiveness of marine fish and fishery products.
The Government of Odisha has also informed that they have introduced the “Promotion of Aquaculture and Shrimp Export Cell” as a component under the umbrella scheme Mukhyamantri Matsyajibi Kalyan Yojana (MMKY), vide Notification No. 7034 dated 16.03.2024. Under this component, financial assistance is provided for the purchase and installation of plant and machinery for seafood processing units, with subsidy support of 30% (up to Rs. 3.5 crore) for General category beneficiaries and 35% (up to Rs. 4.0 crore) for SC, ST, women, transgender persons, persons with disabilities and eligible professionally qualified beneficiaries.The Government of Odisha has further reported that a separate regulatory framework for white-leg shrimp culture in inland saline waters has been notified vide Notification No. 12770 dated 13.07.2026 to promote shrimp production and enhance the State’s export competitiveness.
