Fisheries

The annual 61-day marine fishing ban protects breeding marine life. During this period, the State Government provides ₹8,000 seasonal livelihood relief allowance to marine fisher families.

Ban period schedule:

• East Coast (Tiruvallur to Ramanathapuram): April 15 to June 14.
• West Coast (Kanniyakumari): June 1 to July 31.

Eligibility criteria:

• Active marine fishermen families registered with the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board.
• Valid Marine Fishermen Biometric Smart Card.

Disbursement:

• Verified by the Assistant Director of Fisheries (ADF - Marine); ₹8,000 is credited directly into the fisherman's Aadhaar-linked bank account.

To reduce operational harvesting costs, the Fisheries Department provides sales-tax-exempt subsidized diesel and kerosene for registered mechanized and motorized fishing vessels.

Quota allocation:

• Mechanized Fishing Boats: Up to 18,000 liters of sales-tax-exempt diesel per year.
• Motorized Traditional Crafts: Up to 4,000 liters of subsidized diesel per year.
• Traditional Non-motorized Crafts: Subsidized kerosene allocated monthly through civil supplies outlets.

How to collect:

• Vessels must possess valid registration under the Merchant Shipping Act and an active fishing license.
• Biometric smart fuel passes are redeemed at authorized Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC) fuel bunks at fishing harbors.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and state schemes, fishermen are incentivized to transition from bottom trawling to deep-sea oceanic tuna longlining.

Subsidy structure:

• 50% to 60% capital subsidy (up to ₹30 Lakh to ₹48 Lakh per vessel).
• Balance project cost is facilitated via institutional bank credit with nominal beneficiary equity.

Vessel specifications:

• Equipped with modern navigation GPS, satellite communication transponders, echo sounders, insulated fish holds, and longline haulers.

How to apply:

• Apply through the Assistant Director of Fisheries (ADF) at your regional coastal fishing harbor.