MUMBAI, March 9 -- Seeking to unlock the potential of the fishing sector and improving its ranking among the country's fish-producing states, the Maharashtra government has given the nod to a Rs.947-crore programme to increase the state's annual fish production from the existing 700,000 tonnes to six million tonnes. Called the Matsyasampada Yojana (CM Fisheries Wealth Scheme), the scheme received CM Devendra Fadnavis' assent in a cabinet meeting held last week. The Matsyasampada Yojana is an integrated programme aimed at boosting fish production, strengthening infrastructure and expanding market opportunities across the coastal and inland regions of Maharashtra. It has six new state-level schemes, 19 district-level initiatives and revisions to three existing programmes. Government data shows that marine fish production stood at 4,63,000 metric tonnes in 2024-25 while inland fisheries accounted for 2,69,000 metric tonnes, taking the total production to 7,34,000 metric tonnes. The fisheries department has identified the shortcomings resulting in poor production, and is taking steps to overcome them. Among these are illegal and unregulated fishing, poor infrastructure, inadequate cold chain and storage facilities, limited deep-sea fishing capability, climate change and a lack of modern training facilities. "Apart from the modernisation of fish landing centres, jetties and fishing harbours, there are plans to establish fish markets in municipal areas, modernise ice plants and cold storage networks, promote modern aquaculture practices, rejuvenate water bodies, and train fisherfolk ," it stated. Among other measures is a proposal to provide a fish-selling e-autorickshaws with deep freezers costing Rs.3.5 lakh each and grants of Rs.25,000 to fish sellers to buy equipment....