PMMSY seafood export push: ₹21,394 crore approved, 89 units funded
Synopsis
India's seafood export ambition now has a ₹21,394 crore policy spine. With 89 processing units already funded, a new national traceability framework launched, and quality controls tightened from farm to port, the government is building the most integrated seafood export architecture the sector has seen — but execution across 18 FIDF projects will determine whether the numbers translate to market share.
Key Takeaways
₹21,394.88 crore in projects approved under PMMSY , with a Central share of ₹9,510.89 crore , for fisheries and aquaculture development including export infrastructure.
18 major projects worth ₹345.89 crore sanctioned under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) for fish processing plant expansion.
MPEDA disbursed ₹118.10 crore to 89 seafood processing units for infrastructure upgrades between 2021-22 and 2025-26 under the TDSVMP scheme.
The Export Inspection Council (EIC) mandates antibiotic testing of aquaculture shrimp and FSMS training for all approved export establishments.
The National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2025 establishes a digital traceability system across the entire seafood value chain.
The Centre has approved projects worth ₹21,394.88 crore — with a Central share of ₹9,510.89 crore — under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to develop the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including dedicated investment in seafood export infrastructure. The disclosure was made on 22 July in the Rajya Sabha by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh in response to a parliamentary question.
Key Developments Under PMMSY and FIDF
Under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), 18 major projects with a combined cost of ₹345.89 crore have been sanctioned, focused primarily on expanding and modernising fish processing plants across the country.
Separately, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is executing the Technology Development for Specific Value-Added Marine Products (TDSVMP) scheme, which channels financial assistance toward value-added seafood infrastructure. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, MPEDA disbursed ₹118.10 crore to 89 seafood processing units for infrastructure upgrades under this scheme.
What the Scheme Covers
The TDSVMP scheme supports a broad range of infrastructure: fish processing facilities, cold storage, automated processing machinery, and handling systems for live, chilled, ornamental, and dried fish. It also funds the development of new value-added seafood products, positioning Indian exporters to compete in premium international markets.
Minister Singh told the Rajya Sabha: 'MPEDA is implementing the Technology Development for Specific Value-Added Marine Products (TDSVMP) Scheme, under which financial assistance is provided for the development of value-added infrastructure.'
Quality Control and Export Compliance
The Export Inspection Council (EIC), operating under the Department of Commerce, serves as the competent authority for quality control and inspection of marine product exports. The EIC conducts periodic training on Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standards for approved seafood export establishments and mandates testing of aquaculture shrimp for banned antibiotics during export certification.
MPEDA reinforces these standards through pre-harvest testing and certification programmes, including SHAPHARI. Together with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) and EIC, MPEDA implements the National Residue Control Plan (NRCP) to strengthen residue monitoring, traceability, and compliance with international food safety norms.
National Traceability Framework 2025
The Department of Fisheries has released the National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2025, designed to establish a digital traceability system across the entire fisheries and aquaculture value chain. The framework aims to ensure compliance with both domestic and international requirements, strengthen food safety and quality assurance, boost consumer confidence, and facilitate broader market access for Indian seafood exporters.
This comes amid sustained government efforts to position India as a top-tier seafood exporter, with the combined push across PMMSY, FIDF, TDSVMP, and the traceability framework representing the most comprehensive policy architecture the sector has seen in recent years. Implementation timelines and disbursement targets for the remaining PMMSY outlay will be closely watched by industry stakeholders.
Point of View
394 crore PMMSY commitment is substantial, but the real indicator of intent is the simultaneous move on traceability and residue control — areas where Indian seafood has faced rejection at EU and US borders in the past. Funding processing units is the easy part; sustaining antibiotic compliance across thousands of aquaculture farms is where previous export cycles have broken down. The National Traceability Framework 2025 is a structural fix, but its effectiveness hinges on digital adoption at the farm level, which remains uneven. Without that last-mile compliance, headline investment figures will not automatically translate into durable export growth.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)?
PMMSY is the central government's flagship scheme for developing India's fisheries and aquaculture sector. Projects worth ₹21,394.88 crore have been approved under it, including dedicated investment in seafood export infrastructure such as processing plants and cold storage.
How much has MPEDA spent on seafood processing units under TDSVMP?
MPEDA disbursed ₹118.10 crore to 89 seafood processing units for infrastructure development under the Technology Development for Specific Value-Added Marine Products (TDSVMP) scheme between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
What is the National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2025?
It is a policy framework released by the Department of Fisheries to establish a national digital traceability system across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain. It aims to ensure food safety compliance, improve quality assurance, and facilitate access to international markets for Indian seafood exporters.
How does India ensure seafood export quality compliance?
The Export Inspection Council (EIC) conducts periodic Food Safety Management System (FSMS) training for approved export establishments and mandates testing of aquaculture shrimp for banned antibiotics. MPEDA supplements this with pre-harvest testing, the SHAPHARI certification programme, and the National Residue Control Plan (NRCP) implemented with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
What infrastructure does the FIDF support for seafood exports?
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) has supported 18 major projects worth ₹345.89 crore, primarily for the expansion and modernisation of fish processing plants to strengthen India's seafood export capacity.
