Seaweed Park

Minister of State for Fishing, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has said that the Centre would establish a seaweed park with special economic zone status in Tamil Nadu.

Details –

• The project will be the first of its kind in India and will come up under the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana.
• The state government has been asked to locate the project site and acquire the land, after which the works on the project will start. He further said the Centre has plans to implement projects worth 20-thousand crore rupees, under the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana.
• Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae.

About ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ –

• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package.
• Out of the investment of Rs 20,050 crores, an investment of about Rs 12,340 crores is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture and about Rs 7710 crores investment for Fisheries Infrastructure.
• PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25, doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10% and generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities.
• PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernisation and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.
• While aiming to consolidate the achievements of  Blue Revolution Scheme, PMMSY envisages many new interventions such as fishing vessel insurance, support for new/up-gradation of fishing vessels/boats, Bio-toilets,  Aquaculture in saline/alkaline areas, Sagar Mitras, FFPOs/Cs,  Nucleus Breeding Centres, Fisheries and Aquaculture start-ups, Incubators, Integrated Aqua parks, Integrated coastal fishing villages development, Aquatic Laboratories Network and Extension Services, Traceability, Certification and Accreditation, RAS, Biofloc & Cage Culture, E-Trading/Marketing, Fisheries Management Plans, etc.
• PMMSY scheme primarily focuses on adopting ‘Cluster or Area based approaches’ and creation of Fisheries clusters through backward and forward linkages. Special focus will be given for employment generation activities such as seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation. It emphasises on interventions for quality brood, seed and feed, special focus on species diversification, critical infrastructure, marketing networks etc.