DEPARTMENT OF

FISHERIES, KERALA
5th Jan 2024

Harnessing Potential of Fisheries

in Marine States
Marine Fisheries- Kerala Profile

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 Marine Fish Production Trend in Kerala - Last 10 Years
• Kerala recorded the ‘highest catch of the last decade’ with 6.87 lakh
tonnes in 2022-23 & stood at 3rd position in the country preceded by TN &
Karnataka.

• Estimated Catchable Marine Fish potential of Kerala - 7.5 lakh ton

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Kerala- Major Highlights of the Year 2022-23

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Seafood Export Growth in Kerala 2016-17 to 2022-23
Major Export Items:
•Frozen shrimp-68%, Frozen Fish-8%, Frozen
Squid-5%, Frozen Cuttlefish- 4%, Dried Items -
5%

Major markets:
•USA -32%, China -19%, European Union-
16%, SE Asia – 15%, Japan-6%, Middle
East-4 % & others-8%

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Harnessing Marine Fisheries Potential of Kerala-
Major Interventions by Department

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 I. Major Amendments of KMFR Act (2017)
KMFR Act, 1980 has been amended in 2017 & 2021 in view of Conservation,
Management & Sustainable utilisation of Fish resources. New Rules came into
Force in 2018.
Major Amendments of KMFR Act (Contd.)
II. Notification of Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of
58 nos. of commercially important Fishes

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 Minimum Legal Size Contd………..

• The MLS regulation will come into complete effect only when
all the neighbouring States also enforce the same

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III. Participatory Approach in Fishery Resource Management

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 IV. Strict Enforcement of KMFRA
• The Implementation and Enforcement of KMFR Act is coordinated by
Dept. through 9 Fisheries Stations in the 9 Coastal Districts, assisted
by Marine Enforcement Wing.

No. of Violation of Fine imposed &

Year
Patrolling KMFR ACT Fish Auction (Rs.)
2015-16 975 123 7565942
2016-17 1168 170 5817315
2017-18 1441 175 11254740
2018-19 1874 150 14434532
2019-20 2186 216 26676270
2020-21 1973 87 7885775
2021-22 2364 248 19027445
2022-23 2730 288 23554833
2023-24 Upto
December 30
2938 327 20389319

Total 17649 1784 13,66,06,171/-

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 KMFRA implementation Contd……..

CCTV Surveillance and Electronic Display boards are placed at 12

major fishing harbours in the State with link to Master Control Room and
Regional Control Rooms for effective Enforcement of KMFR Act and
ensuring Coastal Security. The intiative commenced from 2018-19
onwards
Display Board
Sl. CCTV
District At Fishing
No. At Fishing Harbour
harbour
1 Thiruvananthapuram Vizhinjam Vizhinjam
Kollam Neendakara Neendakara
2
Sakthikulangara
3 Ernakulam Munambam Munambam
Kozhikode Puthiyappa
4 Beypore Beypore
Koyilandy (being initiated)
5 Thrissur Chettuva (being initiated)
6 Malappuram Ponnani
Kannur Azheekkal
7 Moplabay
Madakkara DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES KERALA 13
 V. Sustainable Fishing practices- Square Mesh CodEnds
• Kerala has made square mesh cod-ends mandatory in trawl nets.
Mesh size being enforced is 35mm for Fin Fish trawl net and 25mm
for Shrimp trawl net.
• To ensure responsible fishing practices, reduce the by-catch in trawl
fishing & promote sustainable fishing by allowing juvenile fishes to
escape and grow
Achievement
2019-20 – 200 Nos
2020-21 - 200 Nos
2021-22 – 200 Nos
2022-23 - 375 Nos
2023-24 - 750 Nos being implemented

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VI. Sustainable Fishing practices - Projects undertaken for
Reducing pollution and Reduction of carbon emission

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VII. Establishment of Artificial reef

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VIII. Projects undertaken for Exploitation of Deep Sea
Resources

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IX Kerala Fish Procurement, Marketing and Maintenance of
Quality Act, 2021 Act

 The State has constituted the ‘Kerala Fish Procurement, Marketing and
Maintenance of Quality Act, 2021 Act’ for regulating of fish
procurement, auctioning and marketing, to promote systematic,
hygienic and efficient auctioning and marketing, to maintain quality and
for other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

As per provisions of the said Act, the following Societies are being
constituted
 Fish Landing Center Management Societies (FLCMS),
 Harbour Management Societies (HMS) – constituted in 21 Fishing
harbours in the state
 Fish Market Management Societies (MMS),
 State Level Fish Quality Maintenance Committee (SLFQMC)
The ‘Kerala Fish Procurement, Marketing and Maintenance of Quality
Rule’ is under finalisation for enactment.

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 X. Suchitwa Sagaram Sundhara Theeram
 Inspired by the UN recognized Venture ‘Suchitwa Sagaram’ project implemented in the
State from 2018 onwards to free the sea from plastic waste with the cooperation of trawl
vessel owners and workers, State has brought out a new initiative ‘Clean Sea Beautiful
Coast’ project to be implemented in three phases.

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Major Strategies to be Adopted by Coastal States

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Kerala-Future prospective

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