Islands anchor India’s plan to expand tuna, seaweed and ornamental fisheries, Fisheries Ministry says
The Fisheries Ministry says the two island groups, which hold nearly 40 per cent of India's exclusive economic zone, are central to expanding tuna, seaweed and ornamental fisheries.
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Island fisheries in Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands anchor India’s plan to expand tuna, seaweed and ornamental fisheries, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said on Tuesday 10 November 2026, according to a statement carried by IANS. The two island groups together account for nearly 40 per cent of India’s exclusive economic zone, or EEZ. The statement links the plan to investment and infrastructure support.
What the ministry said about island fisheries
The ministry described the sector as “a dynamic, technology-driven and value-oriented pillar of the national economy,” as reproduced by OMMCOM News. It said future expansion will put “sustainability and scientific management at the centre.” Lakshadweep’s lagoons, coral reefs and deep waters are described as suited to tuna fishing, seaweed farming and reef-based livelihoods. The islands also extend India’s presence across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, close to major tuna migration routes.
Key numbers
- ₹39,272 crore: the central funding committed to fisheries schemes and programmes since 2015.
- ₹218 crore: the amount allocated for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- ₹175 crore: the amount earmarked for Lakshadweep.
- 58.6 lakh tonnes: the estimated marine fisheries potential in India’s EEZ.
- Nearly 50 lakh: the fishers who depend on the sector.
- ₹73,890 crore: the approximate value of seafood exports in 2025-26.
Schemes and policy behind the plan
The statement says the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana envisages substantial investment for the island territories. It also points to the Union Budget 2025-26, which set out a framework for harnessing fisheries resources in the EEZ and the High Seas sustainably, with special emphasis on Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as The Avenue Mail also reported. None of the reports names an official or gives a timetable.
What happens next
The statement gives allocations but no production target, completion date or list of projects, so it is not yet clear how much tuna or seaweed output the money will add. Further details would be expected from the ministry or the island administrations. For related business coverage, see our reports on Diwali online sales and India’s record EV registrations, or see our India pages.
The islands give India access to large fishing grounds near tuna migration routes, so the plan links fisheries growth to jobs and exports. The ministry statement gives allocations but no timetable or output targets. Whether the money turns into catch and seaweed output is not yet clear.