Centre Forms 213 Women-Led Fisheries Cooperatives in Andhra Pradesh

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 27 July 2026

The Central Government has established 213 women-led coastal fisheries cooperative societies in Andhra Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), benefiting 27,447 women involved in fisheries, seaweed cultivation and marine fish processing. The initiative, implemented between 1 April 2021 and 15 June 2026, aims to strengthen women's participation in India's fisheries sector through institutional support, financial assistance and capacity building.

Key Highlights:

• 213 women-led fisheries cooperatives formed in Andhra Pradesh
• Over 27,447 women benefit under PMMSY initiatives
• Women-led societies receive priority support and funding incentives

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) shared the information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the Centre's efforts to formalise women's role across the fisheries value chain.

The women-led cooperative societies have been established across 12 coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada. They enable women engaged in marine fisheries, aquaculture, seaweed farming, fish processing and value-added seafood production to organise into formal institutions, improving access to government schemes, training programmes and financial assistance.

To further strengthen these cooperatives, the Centre has encouraged them to register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP). Registration makes societies eligible for performance-based grants of up to ₹2 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), a sub-scheme of PMMSY designed to enhance the performance, governance and sustainability of fisheries cooperatives.

The government has also prioritised women-led fisheries cooperatives in issuing Access Passes for fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Letters of Authorisation (LoA) required for high seas fishing. Additionally, it has reduced the application and renewal fee for LoAs from ₹25,000 to ₹5,000, making deep-sea fishing more accessible for eligible fishing entities.

The announcement aligns with the Centre's wider Blue Economy strategy. The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) has prepared an action plan to establish 12,000 fisheries cooperative societies nationwide, including women-led coastal cooperatives in villages and gram panchayats where such institutions do not exist. The initiative aims to strengthen community-based fisheries management, improve market access and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.

Alongside this expansion, the PMMKSSY seeks to strengthen 5,500 Primary Fisheries Cooperative Societies (PFCSs) across the country through capacity building, mentoring, institutional support and need-based financial assistance. Women-led fisheries cooperatives have been identified as a priority category under the programme.

The Centre noted that women now play an increasingly significant role across fisheries, extending beyond traditional fish processing into aquaculture, seaweed cultivation, value addition, marketing and cooperative management. By expanding women-led cooperative societies and improving access to finance, digital platforms and institutional support, the government aims to promote inclusive growth while strengthening coastal livelihoods and the long-term sustainability of India's fisheries sector.