Department of Fisheries India

Department of Fisheries India
Name	Department of Fisheries, India
Native name	मत्स्य विभाग
Formed	2019
Jurisdiction	Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Headquarters	New Delhi
Minister	Parshottam Rupala
Chief1 name	D. K. Singh
Parent agency	Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Department of Fisheries India

The Department of Fisheries is the nodal administrative body for fisheries and aquaculture in India, operating under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. It coordinates policy implementation across coastal and inland states such as Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, Assam and Odisha, and interfaces with research institutions like the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The Department engages with international bodies including the Food and Agriculture Organization and regional groupings such as the Bay of Bengal Programme.

History

The contemporary Department was created in 2019 when fisheries were elevated from a division to a full ministry-level department within Union Council of Ministers portfolios, reflecting decades of evolution since colonial-era Madras Presidency and princely state fishery administrations. Early initiatives trace to post-independence schemes like those influenced by the National Commission on Agriculture (1976) and the recommendations of the Sivaraman Committee on inland fisheries. Reforms accelerated after consultations with bodies such as the Planning Commission (India) and the National Fisheries Development Board, responding to modernization pressures evident in coastal events like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and policy shifts following the Blue Revolution (India).

Organization and structure

The Department is housed in Krishi Bhavan along with other agriculture-related entities and is administratively linked to the Cabinet Secretariat on inter-ministerial matters. It comprises divisions for Marine Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Extension Services, coordinating with statutory bodies such as the Fish Farmers Development Agency model, the National Fisheries Development Board and state agencies like the Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation and Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department. Technical liaison is maintained with the Central Institute of Fisheries Education and laboratories under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research network. Offices in regional centers including Chennai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata enable implementation across maritime zones subject to laws like the Fisheries Act provisions and district-level administration.

Mandate and functions

The Department’s mandate includes sustainable exploitation of marine and inland resources in coordination with state departments such as Andhra Pradesh Department of Fisheries, conservation measures influenced by the Wildlife Protection Act where applicable, and promotion of livelihood programs in fishing communities represented by organizations like the National Fisherfolk Forum. Core functions encompass policy formulation, regulatory oversight linked to statutes such as the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 for maritime jurisdiction matters, capacity building through training institutes like the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, and disaster response coordination with agencies such as the National Disaster Management Authority for cyclone-impacted districts like those in Odisha.

Policies and programs

Policy instruments include the national Blue Revolution strategy, integration with Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-related water use planning in aquaculture, and digital initiatives that interface with Digital India platforms for registries and fisher identity schemes modeled after Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Programs emphasize value chain enhancement with links to market infrastructure projects influenced by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and credit facilitation through entities such as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Environmental compliance aligns with directives under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and fisheries resource assessments coordinated with the Indian Space Research Organisation for remote sensing of coastal zones.

Fisheries research and development

R&D coordination spans the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, and ICAR institutes such as the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute. Research themes include hatchery technology, breeding programs for species like Rohu, Catla, and Indian Major Carps, disease management informed by the World Organisation for Animal Health standards, and cold-chain logistics research sponsored in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology. The Department funds projects through grant mechanisms, partners with academic hubs like the Indian Institutes of Technology for engineering solutions, and supports extension networks modeled after the National Agricultural Extension Programme.

Schemes and subsidies

Key schemes administered include the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, incentive packages for mechanization and vessel modernisation coordinated with the New Development Bank-style financing mechanisms and subsidies for inputs routed through the Department of Financial Services norms. The Department issues support for seed production, feed subsidies, insurance linkage with the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana frameworks adapted for fisheries, and capital support for cold-chain infrastructure aligned to standards from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. State-level subsidy programs mirror central schemes in states such as Kerala and West Bengal.

International cooperation and partnerships

International engagement includes cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization on sustainable fisheries, bilateral dialogues with countries like Norway and Japan on technology transfer, and participation in regional mechanisms such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Multilateral fisheries governance involves collaboration with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea-related frameworks, technical assistance from the World Bank, and partnerships with NGOs like World Wide Fund for Nature on conservation programs. The Department routinely engages in research exchange with institutions such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and academic collaborations with universities like University of Mumbai.

Category:Fishing in India