Gandhinagar, August 3 (H.S.) – To boost fish production, improve productivity, and enhance the livelihood of fishermen, the Central Government has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) across the country. The scheme focuses on the development of necessary infrastructure for the fisheries sector. Under PMMSY, the Government of India has approved a total of ₹897.54 crore for various component projects in Gujarat from 2020–21 to 2024–25. For the year 2025–26, a grant of ₹50 crore has also been allocated to the state, further accelerating fisheries activities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been emphasizing the development of the blue economy in India. He recently stated, “We are moving towards a future where the blue economy will contribute to building a green planet.” Gujarat has the longest coastline in the country, stretching 2,340.62 kilometres, and holds significant potential in advancing the blue economy. With the implementation of several incentive-based policies and initiatives by the Gujarat Government, the state has now secured the second position in marine fish production in the country.
Over the past four years, Gujarat has recorded an average annual fish production of 8.56 lakh metric tonnes. In the year 2023–24 (October–September), the state produced 7,04,828 metric tonnes of marine fish and 2,03,073 metric tonnes of inland fish, resulting in a total fish production of approximately 9,07,901 metric tonnes. For the year 2024–25, the estimated marine fish production is 7,64,343 metric tonnes and inland fish production is 2,72,430 metric tonnes, with a total projected output of around 10,36,773 metric tonnes.
The PMMSY has been designed to address major gaps in the fisheries value chain — from production, productivity, and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure, and marketing. The goal is to modernize and strengthen the value chain, increase traceability, and establish a robust fisheries management framework, while ensuring the social and economic welfare of fishermen.
The state government has also undertaken various initiatives in the fisheries sector, including reduction in VAT on diesel, subsidies on kerosene and petrol, provision of land for shrimp farming, improvement in road and electricity access, and upgrading basic infrastructure at small fishermen ports. Additionally, four new fishing harbours are being constructed at Madhwad, Nawabandar, Veraval-2, and Sutrapada.
For the current year 2025–26, the state government has launched new initiatives to develop the fisheries industry. These include assistance for setting up biofloc/recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for fish farming and production, support for purchasing medicines, minerals, and probiotics for shrimp pond preparation, and aid for cage culture.
Moreover, support will also be provided for setting up modern boat-building yards, blast freezers and cold storage facilities for boat owners, fisheries cooperatives, and fish traders. Assistance will also be extended for providing replacement boats and nets to traditional fishermen, establishing fish by-product processing units, seaweed banks, and hatcheries for shrimp, fish, and crabs, as well as for seaweed cultivation using rafts or tube nets.
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