Centre: Rs 1,418.5 crore allocated in last 5 years for fisheries development in Kerala

Kochi: The fisheries ministry approved developmental projects amounting to Rs 1,418.51 crore for Kerala in the last five years for the sector, Union minister for fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh replied to a query in Lok Sabha. The projects were under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), implemented by the fisheries department during the last 5 years. He said that provisions were made to ensure environmental protection and prevent any adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem during offshore exploration. The approved activities, inter alia, included support towards 20 deep sea fishing vessels, installation of 42 artificial reefs along the coast for stock rejuvenation, 1,140 alternate livelihood activities like bivalve cultivation, and 740 biofloc units, etc. In addition, there was the establishment of integrated modern coastal fishing villages, climate-resilient coastal villages, etc, for strengthening coastal fisheries and infrastructure in the region. He said that the ministry of petroleum and natural gas formulated the public distribution system (PDS) superior kerosene oil allocation policy, under which govt made allocation of PDS kerosene on a quarterly basis for cooking and lighting, and for special needs (fisheries, mela, exhibitions, pandemic, calamity, etc). On offshore deep sea mineral exploration by the Union mines ministry, Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024, and Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024, had provisions to ensure environmental protection and prevent any adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem.