·PIB

National Conference of Fisheries Secretaries convened to review progress and chart Future roadmap for Fisheries Sector

In this note
  1. At a Glance
  2. Why in the News
  3. Background & Evolution
  4. Core Static Facts
  5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
  6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
  7. Prelims Hooks
  8. Mains Relevance
  9. Related Topics to Study Next
  10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. At a Glance

  • National Fisheries Secretaries Conference convened by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying on 16 January 2026 to review flagship schemes and chart the sector's roadmap [1].
  • Chaired by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Union Secretary (Fisheries); reviewed PMMSY, FIDF, PM-MKSSY and Marine Fisheries Census 2025 [1].
  • Significant for UPSC as a single window into India's Blue Economy governance — cooperative federalism, scheme convergence, and the doubling of fish production since 2013-14 [5].

2. Why in the News

  • Conference held on 16 January 2026 at AP Shinde Symposium Hall, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi with 25 States/UTs, ICAR institutes, SFAC, NCDC, NAFED [1].
  • Secretary flagged fund-utilisation as critical, urging timely disbursal by States/UTs [1].

3. Background & Evolution

  • 2015-16: "Blue Revolution — Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries" scheme launched (predecessor) [5].
  • 2018-19: FIDF created with corpus ₹7,522.48 crore (Union Budget 2018) [6].
  • 2019: Separate Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying carved out [5].
  • 10 Sep 2020: PMMSY launched by PM, FY 2020-21 to 2024-25, outlay ₹20,050 crore [2].
  • Feb 2024: Cabinet approved PM-MKSSY sub-scheme of PMMSY, outlay ₹6,000 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2026-27) [2].
  • 2025: Fifth Marine Fisheries Census 2025 launched — first fully digitised edition [7].

4. Core Static Facts

  • Nodal ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying; Department: Department of Fisheries [1].
  • PMMSY outlay: ₹20,050 crore (5 years, 2020-21 to 2024-25) [2].
  • PM-MKSSY outlay: ₹6,000 crore (₹3,000 cr public + ₹3,000 cr private/beneficiary leverage), 4 years [2].
  • FIDF corpus: ₹7,522.48 crore; 178 projects approved worth ₹6,369.79 crore as of July 2025 [6].
  • Fish production: rose from 95.79 lakh tonnes (2013-14) to 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25) — ~106% rise [4].
  • Inland fisheries growth: ~140% over the same period [5].
  • Seafood exports (2024-25): ₹62,408 crore [5].
  • Marine Fisheries Census 2025 coverage: >1.2 million households in ~5,000 marine fishing villages [7].
  • Digital apps: VyAS-NAV, VyAS-BHARAT, VyAS-SUTRA (multilingual Android) [7].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

  • Fisheries contributes to GVA growth via doubling of production and rising exports (₹62,408 cr) [4][5].
  • PM-MKSSY targets formalisation of micro & small fisheries enterprises, crop insurance, working-capital access [2].

Social

  • Sector supports ~3 crore fishers and fish-farmers; PM-MKSSY emphasises women, SC/ST beneficiaries through identity cards & subsidy access [2].

Environmental / Sustainability

  • Marine Census 2025's geo-referenced real-time data enables stock assessment, sustainable harvest limits and climate-resilient planning [7].
  • FIDF funds eco-friendly harbours, cold chains, hatcheries reducing post-harvest loss [6].

Administrative / Federal

  • Fisheries is a State subject (State List, Entry 21 — fisheries); Centre acts via centrally-sponsored/sector schemes — hence Secretaries' Conference as cooperative-federal forum [1].
  • Fund-utilisation gaps flagged at States/UTs level [1].

Scientific / Technological

  • Census 2025: first fully digital edition — paperless, real-time, Android-based [7].
  • ICAR institutes (CIBA, CIFRI, CMFRI) engaged for drone-based monitoring, shrimp farming R&D [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

  • Feb 2024: PM-MKSSY approved by Cabinet [2].
  • 2025: Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025 launched with VyAS app suite [7].
  • FY 2024-25: Fish production hit 197.75 LMT; seafood exports ₹62,408 cr [4][5].
  • Sept 2025: "5 Years of PMMSY" milestone document released [5].
  • 16 Jan 2026: National Fisheries Secretaries Conference, New Delhi [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

  • PMMSY launched on 10 September 2020 [2].
  • PMMSY total outlay: ₹20,050 crore over 5 years [2].
  • PM-MKSSY is a Central Sector Sub-scheme under PMMSY with outlay ₹6,000 crore [2].
  • FIDF corpus: ₹7,522.48 crore; set up in 2018-19 [6].
  • Marine Fisheries Census 2025 is the 5th edition and first fully digitised [7].
  • Census apps: VyAS-NAV, VyAS-BHARAT, VyAS-SUTRA [7].
  • Fisheries comes under Entry 21 of the State List (Seventh Schedule) [1].
  • Fish production (2024-25): 197.75 lakh tonnes [4].
  • Seafood exports (2024-25): ₹62,408 crore [5].
  • Conference venue: NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi [1].
  • Participating bodies included ICAR, SFAC, NCDC, NAFED [1].
  • Union Secretary, DoF (2026): Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi [1].
  • Marine Census covers ~5,000 marine villages / 1.2 million households [7].

8. Mains Relevance

  • GS-III: Economy (agriculture & allied sectors); Inclusive growth; Food processing; Blue Economy.
  • GS-II: Government schemes; Cooperative federalism.
  • Question stems: 1. "Discuss how PMMSY, PM-MKSSY and FIDF collectively constitute India's Blue Revolution 2.0. Examine implementation bottlenecks." 2. "Marine Fisheries Census 2025 marks a paradigm shift in data-driven fisheries governance. Critically analyse." 3. "Fisheries is a State subject, yet the Centre dominates funding. Examine the federal tensions in India's fisheries sector."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

  • Blue Economy & Sagarmala — port-led growth complements fishing harbours.
  • Deep Sea Mission (MoES) — overlaps with marine resource mapping.
  • Mission Mausam / INCOIS PFZ advisories — sea-state info for fishermen.
  • MPEDA & marine product exports — value-added seafood angle.
  • CRZ Notification 2019 — coastal regulation affecting fishers.
  • IUU Fishing & FAO Port State Measures Agreement — international regime.
  • Inland Aquaculture & RAS technology — productivity drivers.
  • National Fisheries Policy 2020 — overarching framework.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

  • PMMSY ≠ PM-MKSSY: PM-MKSSY is a sub-scheme of PMMSY, not standalone [2].
  • FIDF is NOT under NABARD's own corpus — it is a DoF fund implemented via NABARD/NCDC/AFC as nodal lending entities, corpus ₹7,522.48 cr [6].
  • Fisheries is in State List (Entry 21) — not Concurrent — often misremembered.
  • Marine Fisheries Census is conducted by CMFRI (under ICAR), not DoF directly.
  • PMMSY duration: 2020-21 to 2024-25 (5 yrs) — not 2019 onwards.
  • Ministry name: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (single ministry since 2019) — Fisheries has its own Department within it.

Sources

  1. 1National Conference of Fisheries Secretaries convenedpib.gov.in · tier 1
  2. 2Cabinet approves PM-MKSSYpib.gov.in · tier 1
  3. 3Status of PMMSYpib.gov.in · tier 1
  4. 4Fish production 197.75 LMT FY24-25pib.gov.in · tier 1
  5. 5Blue Waves of Progress: 5 Years of PMMSYstatic.pib.gov.in · tier 1
  6. 6Fisheries Infrastructure under PMMSY / FIDFpib.gov.in · tier 1
  7. 7First fully digitised Marine Fisheries Census 2025pib.gov.in · tier 1

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