The deployment of artificial reefs has emerged as a transformative intervention for coastal fisheries management and livelihood enhancement across maritime India. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), approximately 947 reef sites have been strategically established along the coastline of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, with technical expertise provided by ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Additionally, complementary funding mechanisms have facilitated the creation of nearly 600 supplementary sites. Each installation encompasses an average area of 0.17 hectares and operates within the regulatory framework of respective State Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts, ensuring compliance with sustainable fishing practices.
Collectively, these artificial reef structures span over 263 hectares of coastal waters, creating substantial marine habitat and aggregation zones for commercially important fish species. The socio-economic implications are particularly significant for artisanal and small-scale fishing communities, who constitute the primary beneficiaries of this initiative. Direct fishing operations at the reef sites support approximately 47,350 fishers across primary deployment areas, while spillover effects and peripheral fishing grounds extend livelihood benefits to an estimated 94,700 additional fishers, bringing the total direct and indirect beneficiary base to approximately 142,050 fishing households.
The artificial reef programme demonstrates marked improvements in operational efficiency for traditional fishing communities, notably through reduced fuel consumption, minimized voyage duration, and enhanced catch per unit effort. These structures function as productive fishing grounds in proximity to coastal settlements, thereby diminishing the economic burden on resource-constrained fisherfolk while simultaneously contributing to the restoration of degraded marine ecosystems. When exploited within responsible fishing parameters, artificial reefs present a viable pathway toward achieving ecological sustainability while addressing the livelihood security of one of India’s most vulnerable coastal demographic groups. This multi-dimensional approach represents a significant advancement in integrating conservation objectives with socio-economic development imperatives in the Indian marine fisheries sector.
Key words: Artificial reefs, Helping nature to heal, Small scale fisheries, Habitat restoration, Climate resilience