Amit Shah highlights deep-sea fishing push for cooperatives
India will expand its deep-sea fishing operations through cooperatives after Union Home Minister Amit Shah distributed 1.2 crore rupees worth of vessels on Monday at Mazagon Dock in Maharashtra. The program marks the first time fishing cooperatives rather than private firms will control deep-sea vessels, with 200 additional boats planned over five years under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna.
Traditional fishing operations have kept crews within 40 to 60 nautical miles of shore, limiting catches and profits. The new vessels will enable operations in deeper waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone and beyond, potentially tripling or quadrupling incomes through access to high-value species like tuna. Shah said the initiative advances self-reliance goals while ensuring sustainable practices prevent overfishing.
The government projects India will rank among the top global fish producers by 2030. Federal authorities and the National Cooperative Development Corporation are backing the expansion with infrastructure support for cold storage and port facilities in coastal regions, particularly near Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
