The Ministry of Fisheries has marked six years of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a central government scheme designed to modernise and strengthen India’s fishing and aquaculture sectors. The scheme, which began in 2020, aims to boost fish production, create jobs and improve incomes for fishers and fish farmers across the country.
The Numbers and What PMMSY Covers
The government has committed a total of ₹20,750 crore to PMMSY since its launch. For the 2026-27 financial year, it has allocated a record ₹2,500 crore. Fish production has grown from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. Fisheries exports have jumped from ₹46,663 crore in 2019-20 to ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26.
The scheme supports two types of activities. The Central Sector component, fully funded by the government, covers genetic improvement, innovation, training, harbour modernisation, and support for fisher safety and producer organisations. The Centrally Sponsored component, shared between central and state governments, focuses on increasing fish production, building infrastructure like fishing harbours and cold-storage facilities, and strengthening fisheries management.
PMMSY has created jobs for 58 lakh persons in fisheries and related work. As of August 2026, it has approved projects worth ₹21,394.88 crore across states and union territories. It has supported the establishment of 2,195 Fish Farmers Producer Organizations with ₹544.86 crore in approved projects. The scheme has also approved ₹2,797 crore for cold-chain and marketing infrastructure, and ₹3,741.89 crore for developing fishing harbours and fish landing centres.
A sub-scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) operates within PMMSY with an outlay of ₹6,000 crore, running from 2023-24 to 2026-27. It focuses on formalising the sector, expanding insurance, improving access to credit and promoting quality standards.
What This Means for You
If you are a fisher or fish farmer, PMMSY can help you access subsidies for infrastructure like ice plants, cold storage and modern aquaculture systems. Fish farming communities can benefit from job creation and improved market access through better roads, markets and transportation networks. The digital platform launched under PM-MKSSY can help you register formally, access bank loans and insurance, and link to buyers. Consumers may see more regularly supplied and fresher fish as cold-chain infrastructure improves.