PMMSY Brackish Water Ponds
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India · Central government
PMMSY funds new brackish-water aquaculture ponds with a ₹3.20–4.80 lakh per hectare subsidy.
Open, rolling. Applications are accepted continuously — there is no deadline.
Key facts
- Subsidy amount
- ₹3,20,000 – ₹4,80,000
- Instrument
- Subsidy
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Disbursement
- Released against milestones
About this scheme
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Department of Fisheries funds the digging of new ponds for brackish-water aquaculture, which generally covers shrimp and brackish finfish farming (item 1.7 of the scheme's activity list).
The unit cost taken as the benchmark is ₹8.00 lakh per hectare. A general beneficiary receives ₹3.20 lakh per hectare, while an SC/ST/Women beneficiary receives ₹4.80 lakh per hectare. The ceiling on support is 2 hectares for an individual beneficiary and 20 hectares for a group or society.
Applications go to the State/UT Fisheries Department, and approval happens within the state's Annual Action Plan.
Who can apply
- Eligible business forms
- Not specified
- Udyam registration
- Not specified
- MSME registration
- Not required
- DPIIT startup recognition
- Not required
- GST registration
- Not specified
- Where the business may be based
- Not restricted
- Individual beneficiaries building new brackish-water ponds, up to 2 ha - Groups of fishers and fish farmers — SHGs, JLGs, fisher cooperatives — up to 20 ha - FFPOs / FFPCs - SC/ST and women beneficiaries are paid the higher per-hectare rate
How to apply
- Draft a proposal for the pond area, calculated at the unit cost of ₹8.00 lakh per hectare. - File it with the District or State Fisheries Officer under PMMSY. - Enclose land ownership or lease documents, CAA registration wherever it applies, and a category certificate if the higher rate is being claimed. - Groups must additionally furnish their registration papers and member particulars. - The State Fisheries Department appraises the proposal and accords sanction under the Annual Action Plan. - Funds are disbursed once the ponds have been physically verified.
How applications are assessed
State and UT Fisheries Departments assess proposals for conformity with PMMSY activity norms and unit costs. Those that qualify are ranked by priority within the outlay set by the approved Annual Action Plan, then sent forward for sanction. Before any assistance is released, the asset created must undergo physical verification.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I get per hectare?
The unit cost is ₹8.00 lakh per hectare, of which ₹3.20 lakh per hectare is available to general beneficiaries and ₹4.80 lakh per hectare to SC/ST and women beneficiaries.
How much area can I claim on?
An individual beneficiary can receive support for up to 2 hectares, while a group or society can receive it for up to 20 hectares.
Can a cooperative or FFPO apply?
Self-help groups, joint liability groups, fisher cooperatives and FFPOs/FFPCs can apply, and they qualify for the raised ceiling of 20 hectares.
Are inputs for the first crop covered?
No. Input costs are not covered by this activity; they are supported separately under the inputs-for-brackish-water-aquaculture activity.
Where do I apply?
Apply through your State or Union Territory Fisheries Department, which administers the PMMSY scheme.
Sectors
- Agri Food Rural
- Aquaculture
- Fisheries
- Brackish Water
- Shrimp Farming
- Pmmsy
- Capital Subsidy
Details last verified on 18 September 2026. Source: the issuer's published information.