Parliament Question: Fisheries Cooperatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2598 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04th AUGUST, 2026 Fisheries Cooperatives

2598. Shri Manoj Tiwari:

Dr. Nishikant Dubey:

Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale:

Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh:

Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal:

Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri:

Shri Ramesh Awasthi:

Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary:

Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara:

Shri Jagdambika Pal:

Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat:

Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:

Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti:

Shri Sunil Kumar:

Shri Naba Charan Majhi:

Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:

(a) the details of progress made so far towards strengthening Fisheries Cooperative Societies under the vision of "Sahkar se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation), including details of the number of newly formed fisheries cooperative societies along with the number of existing societies modernised;

(b) the current status of the formation of new fisheries cooperative societies and their integration with the National Cooperative Database, State-wise including Karnataka, Palghar district in Maharashtra and West Champaran district in Bihar;

(c) the details of financial and technical assistance provided for deep-sea fishing trawlers, cold- chains, processing units and development of other infrastructural facilities to fisheries cooperative societies, State-wise including Palghar district in Maharashtra;

(d) whether an effective convergence has been established with schemes like 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana'; and

(e) if so, the details of achievements and outcomes obtained so far through this convergence? Page 1 of 5ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a) to (e) Under the National Plan for formation of new Multipurpose PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies to achieve cooperative coverage in every uncovered Panchayat/village over a period of five years, effective convergence has been established with the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Information relating to Fishery Cooperative Societies, as furnished by the States/UTs, is being maintained on the National Cooperative Database for identification of uncovered areas, monitoring progress and facilitating implementation of the Plan. As on

15.07.2026, a total of 2,356 new Fishery Cooperative Societies (FCSs) have been registered across the country under the National Plan approved on 15.02.2023, while 1,700 existing FCSs have been strengthened. The current status of the formation of new fisheries cooperative societies, State-wise, including Karnataka, Palghar district in Maharashtra and West Champaran district in Bihar is given at Annexure -A.

The National Cooperative Database (NCD) is used for identification of uncovered areas and for maintaining updated information on cooperative societies. Bihar has completed two-way integration of its cooperative database with the NCD, while data relating to Karnataka and Maharashtra are updated on the portal through nodal officers designated by the respective State Governments.

Further, the Department of Fisheries, through NFDB as the nodal agency and in convergence with the Ministry of Cooperation, is implementing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) during 2024–25 to 2028–29 to form 6,000 new multipurpose Fisheries Cooperative Societies (FCSs) and strengthen 5,500 existing FCSs across the country under the vision of "Sahkar se Samriddhi." Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), financial and technical assistance is provided to eligible Fisheries Cooperative Societies, FFPOs and other eligible entities for establishment of deep-sea fishing vessels/trawlers, cold chain infrastructure, fish processing units, hatcheries, integrated aqua parks, integrated fish farming projects and other fisheries infrastructure, as per the scheme guidelines.

So far, six projects of Fisheries Cooperative Societies/FFPOs have been approved under these components in the States of Assam, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, involving a total approved project cost of Rs1,643.54 lakhs with an eligible subsidy of Rs 410.87 lakh. Of these, subsidy amounting to Rs 135.99 lakh has been released to eligible beneficiaries in accordance with the prescribed norms. In Maharashtra, three projects with a total approved project cost of Rs 888.78 lakh and eligible subsidy of Rs 222.19 lakh have been sanctioned, including projects relating to integrated deep-sea fishing vessels, cold chain development and freshwater finfish hatchery. No project has been sanctioned in Palghar district of Maharashtra under these components as on date.

Page 2 of 5Further, Fisheries Cooperative Societies are being supported through gap analysis, preparation of Business Development Plans (BDPs), mentoring, capacity building and need-based financial assistance under PM-MKSSY, while eligible societies are also availing assistance under PMMSY for fisheries infrastructure such as hatcheries, deep-sea fishing vessels, cold chain facilities, fish processing and value addition units, and other post-harvest infrastructure. This convergence has enhanced institutional capacity, improved access to modern fisheries infrastructure, strengthened the business viability of Fisheries Cooperative Societies and contributed to better income and livelihood opportunities for fisher communities.

Department of Fisheries has allocated the task of converting 1,000 existing fisheries cooperative societies into Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). This initiative has an approved outlay of ₹280.65 crore. As of May 31, 2026, NCDC has disbursed ₹130 crore to FFPOs and Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to facilitate market linkages and processing facilities. Further, the NCDC provides long-term and working capital loans specifically for the fisheries sector. In the financial year 2025-26, NCDC disbursed ₹319.03 crore specifically for fisheries cooperative activities.

Further, Fisheries cooperative societies are being enabled to act as Bank Mitras of District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and State Cooperative Banks (StCBs). They are being provided with Micro-ATMs (supported by NABARD) to provide "doorstep financial services," enhancing transparency and financial inclusion in rural areas.

These measures are intended to strengthen institutional capacity, improve access to infrastructure, facilitate processing and marketing, and enhance market linkages for fishers and fisheries cooperatives.

The details of financial and technical assistance provided for deep-sea fishing trawlers, cold- chains, processing units and development of other infrastructural facilities to fisheries cooperative societies, State-wise including Palghar district in Maharashtra and the details of achievements and outcomes obtained so far through this convergence are attached as Annexure-B.

Page 3 of 5Annexure-A S. State / Union Territory New Fishery Cooperative Societies N1 oNo. Andaman & Nicobar Islands R11e gistered 2 Andhra Pradesh 2 3 Arunachal Pradesh 29 4 Assam 89 5 Bihar* 2 6 Chhattisgarh 336 7 Goa 4 8 Gujarat 26 9 Haryana 6 10 Himachal Pradesh 12 11 Jammu & Kashmir 40 12 Jharkhand 227 13 Karnataka 52 14 Ladakh 1 15 Lakshadweep 29 16 Madhya Pradesh 255 17 Maharashtra** 167 18 Manipur 71 19 Meghalaya 19 20 Mizoram 2 21 Nagaland 19 22 Odisha 61 23 Puducherry 3 24 Punjab 52 25 Rajasthan 31 26 Sikkim 4 27 Tamil Nadu 36 28 Telangana 102 29 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 1 30 (TDriNpuHr a& DD) 26 31 Uttar Pradesh 514 32 Uttarakhand 124 33 West Bengal 3 34 Kerala 0 35 Chandigarh 0 36 Delhi 0 Total 2,356 * In West Champaran, Bihar, Zero new Fishery cooperative societies have been registered **In Palghar, Maharasthra, 1 new Fishery cooperative society has been registered Page 4 of 5Annexure-B State wise projects approved for FCS/FFPO are as follows:

Approved Eligible S. Name of the Society/ Project Subsidy State/ UT Project/ outcome No FFPO cost (In (In Lakhs) Lakhs) 1 M/s. Ankur Min Palan Assam Integrated Aqua Park 251.02 62.75 Samabai samiti Ltd, Mr. project for sustainable Haren Chandra Borah fisheries and resource conservation 2 PVRAQUA Uttar Culture, Recreational 418.48 104.62 Pradesh and Live fish sale 3 Sanjivani Matsya Vikas Maharashtra Establishment of New 100.78 25.19 Co-operative Society Freshwater Finfish Ltd. hatchery and related component.

4 Om Sai Sagar Maharashtra Integrated Deep Sea 290 72.5 Matsyodyog Sahakari Fishing vessel & cold Sanstha Maryadit, chain Development Ratnagiri Maharashtra 5 Zuari Fishermen Maharashtra Integrated Deep Sea 498 124.5 Marketing Cooperative Fishing Vessel & Cold Society Ltd (Goa State) Chain Development 6 M/s Abhinav FFPO Uttar Integrated Inland Fish 85.26 21.31 Pradesh Farming Project *** Page 5 of 5