The Coastal States Fisheries Meet 2025, held on April 28, 2025, in Mumbai, marked a significant step toward the modernisation of India's fisheries sector. Spearheading this initiative was Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh Alias Lalan Singh, who inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a suite of infrastructure and institutional projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

A total of ₹255 crore (US$ 29.1 million) has been allocated for projects spanning seven coastal states and Union Territories, aimed at strengthening the physical and governance frameworks that underpin India's maritime fisheries economy. These initiatives align with the government’s broader vision of transforming the fisheries sector into a modern, technology-enabled, and economically vibrant industry.

Infrastructure Development and Vessel Digitisation

One of the core highlights of the meet was the national announcement to equip 1,00,000 marine fishing vessels in 13 coastal states and Union Territories with indigenously developed transponders. These transponders enhance communication, navigation, and safety at sea, especially during adverse weather conditions. So far, 33,674 transponders have already been installed, with a dedicated budget of ₹364 crore (US$ 41.6 million) allocated for the broader rollout.

The use of these devices marks a leap forward in digitising India’s marine fleet, improving fleet tracking, rescue operations, and real-time data sharing with maritime agencies and coastal authorities.

State-Level Reforms and Institutional Strengthening

To address long-standing inter-state fishing conflicts, especially over fishing zones and access rights, the Department of Fisheries has constituted three Regional Fisheries Management Councils (RFMCs)—Western, Eastern, and Southern. These councils will be co-chaired by Ms. Neetu Prasad, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), Government of India, and state-level fisheries secretaries on an annual rotation basis. The RFMCs aim to ensure harmonised management, conflict resolution, and sustainable resource sharing across state maritime boundaries.

Simultaneously, the Gujarat Government has enacted an important legislative reform by amending its Fisheries Act, 2003, to establish the Gujarat State Fisheries Harbour and Aquaculture Development Authority. This authority will be a specialised body to manage, develop, and regulate fisheries harbours and aquaculture projects in the state.

Marine Fisheries Census 2025 and Digital Empowerment

A crucial pillar of fisheries governance is data, and to that end, the Marine Fisheries Census 2025 has been launched. Developed in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), the census is an app-based digital initiative to map fisher households, fishing gear, boats, and related infrastructure across India’s coastline.

The census will be conducted across 13 coastal states and Union Territories and aims to bring accuracy, speed, and analytical depth to fisheries data. For instance, Gujarat alone plans to cover 70,000 fisher households across 280 villages in 15 coastal districts, using the VyAS-NAV digital platform—a GIS-based decision-support tool designed for smart fisheries management.

Integrated Approach for Sustainable Fisheries

These combined efforts reflect a holistic and integrated approach to fisheries development, incorporating infrastructure building, technological advancement, legal reforms, and institutional capacity enhancement. The goal is to build a resilient fisheries sector that balances economic prosperity with ecological sustainability.

India's marine fisheries sector employs millions, especially in marginalised coastal communities, and contributes significantly to food security, exports, and livelihoods. However, challenges such as overfishing, climate change, pollution, and regulatory overlaps have often constrained sectoral growth. By investing in both hard infrastructure (harbours, cold chains, vessel equipment) and soft infrastructure (data systems, digital tools, governance bodies), the government aims to unlock the full potential of India's Blue Economy.

PMMSY: A Transformative Blueprint

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020, is India's flagship fisheries development program. With a total outlay of ₹20,050 crore, PMMSY is designed to increase fish production, create jobs, and double fishers' income through a series of schemes focused on sustainable aquaculture, fisher welfare, modernisation, and export competitiveness.

The ₹255 crore disbursement announced in the Mumbai meet covers a range of initiatives including:

• Modern fish landing centres and harbour upgrades

• Cold storage facilities and fish processing units

• Marine cage farming projects

• Training centres for skilling coastal youth

• Solar-powered community infrastructure

• Technological demonstrations and research hubs

Looking Ahead: Bridging Gaps with Innovation

While these efforts mark commendable progress, experts believe that sustained investments, local capacity building, and community engagement will be key to long-term success. There is also a need for more climate-resilient infrastructure, as rising sea levels and frequent cyclones pose increasing risks to coastal livelihoods.

Technological innovations such as IoT-enabled monitoring, blockchain traceability in seafood supply chains, and AI-based catch estimation models are being explored by both public and private stakeholders. These emerging technologies, combined with schemes like PMMSY, could reshape India’s fisheries sector into a digitally driven and globally competitive ecosystem.

As India navigates the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), initiatives such as these are crucial not only for domestic economic growth but also for meeting international sustainability goals and enhancing India’s role in global fisheries governance.

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