Sri Vijaya Puram | January 28, 2026
The Department of Fisheries under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has approved the Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s proposal for the development of a Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder at an estimated cost of ₹199.24 crore, with 100 per cent Central financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
According to a PIB release, the project will be developed in line with the Blue Port Initiative and will feature safe landing and berthing facilities supported by modern technology and IoT-enabled systems. The harbour will integrate sustainable fisheries management practices, enhanced fish-handling capacity, improved operational safety, energy-efficient systems and digital traceability mechanisms.
The proposed harbour will provide safe landing and berthing facilities for 430 fishing vessels and is designed to handle an annual fish landing of about 9,900 tonnes. The project is expected to generate employment across the fisheries value chain, enhance stakeholder incomes and strengthen local livelihoods, while also supporting efforts to curb Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing through environmentally responsible approaches.
The PIB release highlighted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a vast marine resource base, with an Exclusive Economic Zone of about 6 lakh square kilometres and significant tuna potential. The approval of the Mayabunder project is described as a strategic intervention to unlock the fisheries potential of the Islands and support India’s goal of achieving ₹1 lakh crore in seafood exports by 2030–31.
