Government Approves Rs 7,500 Crore Projects for the Development of Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres

The central government has given its approval for projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore aimed at modernizing fishing harbours and fish landing centres. Parshottam Rupala, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony for the modernization and upgradation of the Cochin Fishing Harbour in Thoppumpady, Samudrika Hall, Willingdon Island, Cochin, which is under the authority of the Cochin Port Authority.

In March 2022, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India, sanctioned the proposal by the Cochin Port Trust for the modernization and upgradation of the Cochin Fishing Harbour in Thoppumpady.

The total cost of the project is Rs 169.17 crore, with a central financial assistance of Rs 100 crore under the PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways under the Sagarmala initiative.

This project will benefit 700 fishing boats operating at the Cochin fishing harbour, directly supporting the livelihoods of around 10,000 fishermen and indirectly benefiting around 30,000 fishermen involved in the value chain. The modernization efforts are expected to significantly improve hygiene conditions and increase earnings from the export of fish and fish products.