Recent Current Affairs related to Fisheries

The PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has completed 6 years of operation since its launch in 2020, aiming for the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector.

The scheme is implemented by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying with a total outlay of ₹20,050 crore. It is to be noted that a record allocation of ₹2,500 crore has been designated in the Budgeted Estimates for 2026-27 to support the implementation of the scheme.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has released the ‘Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031’, which serves as the Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development.

The launch took place during the Fisheries Outreach Programme, organised by the Department of Fisheries,in Agatti, Lakshadweep. The initiative aims to establish a uniform framework for the organised growth of the ornamental fisheries sector.

The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has released the “National Report on Deep-Sea and Distant-Water Fishery Resources of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)” to assess marine resources.

The publication was edited by Dr VN Sanjeevan (former Director of CMLRE) and Dr Baban Ingole (retired Scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)), under the leadership of Dr RS Maheshkumar (Head of CMLRE).

The assessment studies were largely supported by the flagship research vessel of India, the Fishery and Oceanographic Research Vessel (FORV) 'Sagar Sampada'.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) has launched a mobile application titled “DeepDATA” in Kochi, Kerala.

Developed under the “Deep Ocean Mission” of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the application provides scientifically verified information regarding deep-sea fish species.

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched the 'Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana' to provide financial assistance and social security to fishermen engaged in reservoir fisheries during the annual fishing ban period.

Under the scheme, eligible fishermen will receive a lump-sum grant of ₹3,500. The initiative has an estimated annual expenditure of ₹1.20 crore.

India has deposited its Instrument of Acceptance for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), becoming a party to the agreement. India is the 123rd member to deposit its acceptance for the same.

The AFS, adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva in 2022, is the first multilateral WTO agreement with an environmental sustainability objective.

It prohibits government support for illegal fishing and overexploitation of stocks, contributing to the protection of marine life. It is to be noted that the agreement entered into force in September 2025, following acceptance by two-thirds of WTO members.

The Department of Fisheries has organised the national launch of the 'Letter of Authorisation' (LoA) for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan presided over the event and launched the LoA for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the High Seas. He also unveiled the 'Odisha Deep Sea Mission Document'.

According to the "State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2026" report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the theme "Blue Transformation: Turning Vision into Impact", India has emerged as the world's second-largest producer of aquatic animals, contributing 9% of the total global production in 2024.

India ranks first globally in inland water catches, producing 2.2 million tonnes (MT) from rivers, lakes, and freshwater systems. The top five aquaculture-producing countries globally are China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary have launched an Integrated Aqua Park at the Vanasaur Fish Seed Farm in Bhojpur, developed with an investment of ₹31.21 crore under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

They also inaugurated the Regional Centre of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in Patna, which will serve as a knowledge and institutional hub for Bihar and the Eastern India region.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and CM Samrat Choudhary laid the foundation stone for a Technology Centre in Khizarsarai, Gaya. The facility is being developed with a budget of ₹170 crore.