Women-led fisheries cooperatives supported under PMMSY; priority access for EEZ/High Seas fishing
PMMSY-backed women-led fisheries cooperatives get priority access for Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas fishing permissions
- The Government of Andhra Pradesh reported women-led coastal Cooperative Societies in fisheries, seaweed cultivation, and marine processing across 12 districts.
- The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said PMMSY supports fisheries cooperative societies and prioritises women-led cooperatives for offshore fishing permissions.
- The National Fisheries Development Board has an action plan to support nationwide formation of fisheries cooperatives, including women-led coastal cooperatives.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said that the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is supporting the formation of fisheries cooperative societies across India, including women-led coastal cooperatives in Andhra Pradesh. The policy relevance lies in its link to the blue economy, cooperative-based livelihoods, and women’s participation in fisheries governance.
What the government said now
According to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, 213 women-led coastal Cooperative Societies have been formed in fisheries, seaweed cultivation, and marine processing across 12 districts between 1 April 2021 and 15 June 2026. The state government said these societies benefited 27,447 beneficiaries, including in coastal districts such as Kakinada.
UPSC can frame this topic around the design of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the role of cooperative institutions in fisheries value chains, and the policy objective of improving women’s participation in coastal livelihoods. The issue also connects to digital governance through the National Fisheries Digital Platform and to regulatory access for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the High Seas.
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