Inland fisheries sector plays a significant role in food production, contributing to the livelihood and food security and generating employment.
Tamil Nadu has a vast network of inland water resources, which vitally supports fisheries activities and contributes significantly to the State's economy. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department owns 22,056 minor irrigation tanks, ponds and ooranies, while Water Resources Department (WRD) owns 90 reservoirs and 14,306 irrigation tanks. The WRD has provided permission to the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare to manage fisheries activities in 62 reservoirs and 636 irrigation tanks. Tamil Nadu's inland fish production potential is 4.50 lakh tonnes. During the year 2023-24, the total inland fish production is 2.47 lakh MT.
To enhance the overall inland fish production of the State, the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare is implementing various schemes like stocking of fish seeds in major Rivers under River Ranching Programme, stocking of fingerlings in Reservoirs, in rural Panchayat Tanks, implementation of various inland aquaculture schemes like establishment of freshwater fish hatcheries, fish seed rearing centres, grow out ponds and intensive fish culture units such as, Bio-floc , Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) culture system, Input subsidy assistance for purchase of fishing Net and Coracle and Input subsidy assistance to the DFFDA registered fish farmers in Tamil Nadu.
