In a significant push for the fisheries sector, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh announced on Wednesday the government’s goal to increase annual seafood exports to Rs 1 lakh crore from last fiscal year’s Rs 60,000 crore. Speaking at the fourth anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY), Singh emphasised plans to strengthen the sector’s foundation over the next five years. The minister launched the PMMSY and released guidelines for production and processing clusters. He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the previously neglected fisheries sector, which supports over 3 crore livelihoods, has seen substantial growth. The PMSSY scheme, with a Rs 20,000 crore outlay, has contributed to increasing fish production from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 175.45 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India, celebrated the fourth anniversary in New Delhi on Wednesday. The event marked four successful years of the flagship scheme, which has significantly advanced India’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors towards holistic and inclusive growth. The celebration was graced by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Ranjan Singh, along with Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Ministry of Minority Affairs, George Kurian. Senior officials from state/UT fisheries departments, delegations from the embassies of France, Russia, Australia, Norway, and Chile, along with representatives from the Department of Fisheries (GoI), National Fisheries Development Board, ICAR institutes, PMMSY beneficiaries, fishermen, fish farmers, and other key stakeholders, participated in the event, held in hybrid mode.