The Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has approved a smart and integrated fishing harbour project in Mayabunder, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at an estimated cost of ₹199.24 crore. The project will be implemented with 100% central financial assistance under the Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
Aligned with the Blue Port initiative, the new fishing harbour will feature advanced technology and IoT-enabled systems to provide secure landing and berthing facilities. It aims to promote sustainable fisheries management, increase fish handling capacity, improve operational safety, and integrate energy-efficient systems along with digital traceability.
The development is expected to boost employment opportunities, enhance incomes for stakeholders, strengthen livelihoods, and help tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through environmentally friendly methods. This will support India’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The fishing harbour will facilitate safe landing and berthing for around 430 fishing vessels and enable the landing of approximately 9,900 tonnes of fish annually. The project is anticipated to generate employment within the fisheries value chain and provide significant benefits to the sector.
The ministry highlighted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands possess a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 600,000 square kilometres with rich marine resources, including an estimated 60,000 metric tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species. This includes 24,000 metric tonnes of yellowfin tuna and 2,000 metric tonnes of skipjack tuna.
According to the ministry, fish production in India has more than doubled in the past decade, rising from 9.6 million tonnes in 2013-14 to approximately 19.77 million tonnes in 2024-25. The export value of marine products has also doubled, reaching ₹62,408 crore, with over 350 types of products exported to around 130 countries.
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