The Union Government has allocated Rs 1,264.23 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for fisheries development in Odisha over the last four years and the current financial year.
Of this, Rs 510.94 crore is the central share, and Rs 271.17 crore has already been disbursed based on utilization reports from the state government.
Key initiatives under PMMSY include the construction of 38 cold storage units and ice plants, 1,125 fish marketing facilities, and two wholesale fish markets in Balasore and Khorda districts. Additional projects focus on aquaculture development, such as brackish water ponds, recirculatory aquaculture systems, and reservoir cage culture.
The modernization of Odisha’s fisheries infrastructure is also underway, with Rs 179.90 crore sanctioned for a fishing harbor in Astaranga, Puri, and Rs 108.91 crore allocated for upgrading the Paradip fishing harbor with 100% central funding. A scampi production and processing cluster will be established in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts.
Fisheries policies like the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 aim to ensure sustainability and optimal utilization of marine resources. Measures include annual fishing bans from April 15 to June 15 along Odisha’s coast and restrictions on harmful fishing practices such as pair trawling and LED light fishing.
This information was shared by the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, during a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The developments signal a robust push for sustainable fisheries in Odisha and the enhancement of the state’s blue economy.
