Island fisheries at the centre of India’s Blue Economy push
PIB National (English) · Published 10 November 2026 · Last updated
India allocates ₹393 crore under PMMSY to transform Andaman‑Nicobar and Lakshadweep fisheries into high‑value tuna, seaweed and ornamental clusters.
Key points
- The Union Government, via the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), earmarks ₹218 crore for Andaman & Nicobar Islands and ₹175 crore for Lakshadweep to boost island fisheries.
- A five‑year plan aims to double tuna production in Lakshadweep to 50,000 tonnes, using deep‑sea vessels, mother‑vessels and pole‑and‑line methods.
- A dedicated Tuna Cluster in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands will modernise fleets, add cold‑storage capacity and link directly to export markets through MPEDA.
- Lakshadweep is notified as a Seaweed Cluster, with plans for large‑scale cultivation, seed banks and hatcheries to develop a diversified seaweed value chain.
- The islands host over 300 reef‑associated ornamental species, and a medium‑scale rearing programme will promote regulated collection for aquarium trade.
- Infrastructure upgrades include fish landing centres, ice plants, cold‑chain networks, fish‑aggregating devices and boat‑building yards across both island groups.
- The Union Budget 2025‑26 provided the enabling framework for sustainable exploitation of the EEZ and High Seas, emphasizing the strategic importance of the islands.
- Since 2015, the government has committed ₹39,272 crore to fisheries through key schemes, reflecting a shift from production‑focused to technology‑driven, value‑added marine economy.
Background
- India’s coastline stretches ≈11,099 km with an EEZ of nearly 24 lakh sq km, providing a marine fisheries potential of 58.6 lakh MT.
- The sector supports ≈50 lakh fishers and contributed ₹73,890 crore in seafood exports during FY 2025‑26, positioning India among the world’s leading fisheries producers.
- Island territories—Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep—together account for nearly 40 % of India’s EEZ, giving access to rich tuna migration routes in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
- Public investment in fisheries rose sharply after 2015, with ₹39,272 crore allocated through schemes such as PMMSY to modernise fleets and infrastructure.
- The 2025‑26 Union Budget introduced an enabling policy for sustainable harvesting of resources from the EEZ and High Seas, specifically highlighting the islands.
Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: PIB National (English)