Parliament Question: Illegal Fisheries

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2628 ANSWERED ON 04/08/2026 ILLEGAL FISHERIES

2628. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be

pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study/surveys to identify and assess illegal fisheries in the country;

(b) if so, the details regarding the number of illegal fisheries detected during the last five years, State-wise and district-wise in Andhra Pradesh and in Eluru District in Andhra Pradesh;

(c) the details regarding the enforcement action taken against illegal fisheries during the last five years, including the number of units shut down across the country, State-wise and district wise in Andhra Pradesh and in Eluru District; and

(d) the details regarding the measures undertaken by the Government to prevent and reduce illegal fisheries and undertake awareness programmes for fishers and coastal communities? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) to (c): ‘Fisheries’ is a state subject, and each Coastal State has enacted its Marine Fishing Regulation Act (MFRA) for governance of fishing activities within the territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline. The regulation of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone

(EEZ) beyond territorial waters is governed by the Union Government through the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of fishing by foreign vessels) Act, 1981 and the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone of India Rules, 2025. Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that the Andhra Pradesh Marine Fishing Regulation Act (AP- MFRA) and AP-MFR Rules are implemented to curb the illegal fishing in the territorial waters of Andhra Pradesh and the details of district wise violations of the AP-MFRA across the state during the last 4 years are Annexed. It is further informed that Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh has no coastline.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has also informed that there is a continuous intrusion of mechanized fishing boats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the territorial waters of Andhra Pradesh near south coastal districts i.e., Tirupathi, SPSR Nellore, Prakasam and Bapatla and around 160 cases of illegal fishing have been reported during last 5 years. Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that in 2022-23, a penalty amounting to Rs. 52,500 was collected and fish catch worth Rs.31000 was confiscated from 21 fishing boats from Srikakulam, Krishna, Bapatla and Prakasam Districts, in 2024-25, a penalty of Rs. 7500 was collected and fish catch worth Rs.5000 was confiscated from 3 fishing boats from Bapatla District and in 2025-26, Rs.

2500 was collected and fish catch worth Rs.2500 was confiscated from 1 Fishing boat from Kakinada District for violation of fishing ban period.(d): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) has issued advisories from time to time to all the coastal States/UTs for preventing juvenile fishing and ban on destructive fishing practices for ensuring sustainability. Paired bottom trawling or bull trawling and use of LED lights in fishing are banned in the EEZ of India. All the maritime States/UTs have also been advised to take necessary steps to prevent pair or bull trawling and use of LED light for fishing within and beyond the territorial waters. Besides, the DoF, GoI has also advised to coastal states/UTs to review and amend their respective MFRAs to ensure mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) towards marine turtle conservation. The implementation of TED has been included and supported under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

(PMMSY) with 100% financial assistance (60% Central and 40% State). The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 are framed to promote sustainability of marine ecosystem with optimum utilization of untapped fishery resources.

Emphasis is also given to promote ecosystem approach for sustainable harnessing of resources in the EEZ, and implementation of the conservation and management measures, such as uniform ban on fishing during monsoon or fish breeding season, minimum legal size of fish, bycatch reduction, best practices for reducing post-harvest losses, conservation of fish stocks or rejuvenation measures including sea ranching, installation of artificial reefs, etc. The Rules also prohibit destructive fishing and juvenile fishing in the EEZ to protect the marine biodiversity of our seas.

The DoF, GoI issues advisory to coastal States and Union Territories (UTs) from time to time to sensitize the fishermen for prevention of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line

(IMBL). Besides, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard regularly conduct Community Interaction Programmes (CIPs) for the fishermen in the coastal villages to sensitize them about IMBL among other safety and security measures. ICG ships and aircrafts, during regular patrol close to IMBL undertake shepherding of Indian fishing boats into Indian waters. Co-ordinated patrols with neighboring countries are also undertaken in order to sensitize the fishermen to avoid crossing of the IMBL. ICG also sensitizes Fisheries Departments of Coastal States/UTs and fisheries associations about the perils of fishing near/across IMBL.

DoF, GoI has approved a project with total outlay of Rs. 364.0 Crores under the PMMSY for the National Rollout of Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS) including installation of transponders on 1,00,000 fishing vessels in all coastal States and UTs. The transponders are being fitted in the fishing vessels with 100% government assistance. The transponders have geo-fencing features to give alerts to the fishermen upon approaching to or crossing over the authorized areas of fishing and to prevent cross State borders or unauthorized fishing.

*****Annexure Statement referred to in reply to the part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.

2628 regarding "Illegal Fisheries" put in by Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha for answer on 4th August, 2026.

Sl. No. Year District No. of Violations observed under AP MFR Act

1. 2022-23 Srikakulam 2 Krishna 1 Bapatla 1 Prakasam 17

2. 2023-24 Nil Nil

3. 2024-25 Bapatla 3

4. 2025-26 Kakinada 1