Lakshadweep's blue economy
The Pacific skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) fishery of Lakshadweep is one of the most remarkable sustainable fisheries in the world. The islanders use the pole-and-line method — a single hook on a baited barbless lure, fish caught one at a time and thrown over the head into the boat. There is essentially zero bycatch — no nets, no longlines, no juvenile dolphin / turtle / shark casualties. The method has been certified at various points by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) — Maldives uses the same method and is a peer reference; Lakshadweep has been working on full MSC certification since 2015 — 20.
Beyond skipjack tuna, the islands have: reef fish (groupers, snappers, parrot fish, jacks, emperors) — primarily for local market; live bait fish (silversides / fusiliers) cultivated for the tuna fishery; ornamental reef fish for aquarium export. Value-addition centres around masmin — the traditional smoked-dried tuna product, a Geographical Indication (GI) tagged Lakshadweep specialty. Cold-chain infrastructure has expanded through PMMSY support.
Programme components
- Boat subsidy: 50 — 60 % subsidy on FRP (fibre-reinforced plastic) pole-and-line craft and outboard motor / inboard engine. Typical capex ₹15 — 30 lakh / craft.
- Cold storage and ice plants at Kavaratti, Agatti, Minicoy, Andrott, Amini — PMMSY- funded. Critical for tuna freshness during the 12-hour landing-to-mainland-shipping cycle.
- Masmin processing units with modernised drying / smoking and packaging.
- Live bait culture units — silverside / fusilier holding facilities to ensure baitfish supply for the tuna season.
- Cooperative aggregation through Lakshadweep Fishermen's Cooperative Societies and the Lakshadweep Co-operative Marketing Federation.
- Export linkage: with APEDA / MPEDA for Sri Lanka, Maldives, EU buyers seeking sustainable- certified pole-and-line tuna.
Eligibility
- Lakshadweep resident fisher with island residence proof.
- Operates a pole-and-line craft (or intends to acquire one with subsidy).
- Island Fisheries Cooperative Society membership (cooperative route preferred for marketing).
- Fishing license / boat registration with the UT Fisheries Department.
How to apply — step by step
- Approach the UT Fisheries Office on your island; or apply via pmmsy.dof.gov.in for PMMSY-funded components.
- Submit Aadhaar, island residence proof, fishing license, cooperative membership, bank account, DPR (for boat purchase or value-add unit).
- Joint inspection — UT Fisheries Officer + Cooperative Secretary — verifies application and ranks against district / island quota.
- Subsidy released in tranches against milestones — boat keel-laying, fitting, sea trial, delivery; for value-add units, site preparation, civil works, plant installation, commissioning.
- On commissioning, the boat / unit enters operational life; cooperative aggregation supports marketing (LACMARF / Fishermen's Coop Federation).
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- 2024-25: PMMSY phase-II rollout in Lakshadweep; cold-chain expansion at major landing sites.
- March 2025: Masmin GI promotion push; APEDA / MPEDA tie-up for premium-niche EU export.
- August 2025: Boat fleet modernisation cycle; older wooden craft replaced with FRP under PMMSY 50 — 60 % subsidy.
- 2025-26: MSC certification renewal cycle for the pole-and-line tuna fishery; sustainable seafood premium opportunities tracked.
Common rejection / failure modes
- Quota exhausted: PMMSY boat-subsidy quotas are island-level and limited each year.
- Cooperative membership absent: preferred route is via cooperative — register first.
- Vendor not empanelled: boat builder and engine vendor must be on PMMSY / UT empanelment.
- DPR weak: value-add unit DPR without market linkage, manpower plan, or sourcing plan gets de-prioritised at scrutiny.
- Aadhaar — bank seeding failure: DBT credit fails on NPCI side.
- Monsoon downtime: tuna season is limited (~8 — 10 months); monsoon disrupts both fishing and mainland shipping — affecting commissioning timelines.
Grievance: Cooperative Secretary → UT Fisheries Officer → Director of Fisheries, Lakshadweep UT → PMMSY State Nodal Officer → Department of Fisheries, Government of India (Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi).
Coverage statistics
Per UT Fisheries Department and Department of Fisheries GOI data, Lakshadweep's annual marine catch is ~15 — 25 kilotonnes — heavily dominated by skipjack tuna (~70 — 80 % of catch volume). Pole-and- line craft count is in the 1,500 — 2,000 range. Cold- chain capacity has expanded over the FY 2020 — 26 horizon with PMMSY support. Masmin production runs in the few-hundred-tonne band. Export to Sri Lanka and Maldives is significant; EU pilot exports growing. Exact figures are published in the National Marine Fisheries Census, CMFRI annual reports, and the Lakshadweep UT Statistical Handbook. The fishery supports a meaningful share of the islands' economically active population alongside coconut- based livelihoods.
How this scheme stacks with other schemes
Marine Fishery is the islands' second dominant livelihood rail. PMMSY is the central umbrella (₹20,050 cr nationally over 5 years from 2020 — 25; extended); PMFME funds value-add micro-units (masmin processing, fish-meal, ready-to-eat tuna products); AHIDF covers animal husbandry & dairy infrastructure (rare in Lakshadweep but applies to poultry / dairy micro-units); Coconut Development is the other major rail. KCC-Fisheries provides credit; PMSBY / PMJJBY for fisher mortality / accident cover; PMFBY does not cover marine catch but boats insured separately.
Related
- PMMSY (central umbrella).
- Lakshadweep Coconut Development.
- Lakshadweep state guide.