Fisheries Infrastructure in Kerala

Construction and commissioning of a number of fishery harbours and landing centres, introduction of new generation fishing crafts and gears - both in the traditional and mechanised sectors, NCDC assisted motorisation programme for traditional crafts implemented by Matsyafed (Kerala Government undertaking), various social welfare measures taken to improve the living standards of fishermen like housing, roads, water supply schemes, fisheries schools etc, have brought considerable development to the fisheries sector of the state during the last decades. A total of 11 harbours constructed by the Harbour Engineering Department are formally commissioned in the state. A list of the harbours in operation is given below in table. Other infrastructure facilities are also listed below:

A total of 21 Fishing Harbours including formally commissioned (11) /Ongoing (12) /and sanctioned (1)
9 FLCs for Mechanised Vessels
13 FLCs for Traditional Fishermen
19 Ice Plants/Cold Storages Constructed under Public & Co-op Sector
546 Kms Fishery Roads
50 Water Supply Schemes in Coastal Region
3 Desalination Plants
80 Common Sanitation Schemes
10 Fishery Schools
Well Developed Fishing Fleet, Gears, Freezers and Processing Facilities in Private & Corporate Sector
Coastal tourism schemes providing employment opportunities to the fishermen community.

Kerala state is a narrow strip of land with 590 kilometers of coastline and 222 fishermen villages. The region's history and the way of life are highly influenced by the close proximity to the ocean. There is evidence that at least from earlier centuries of the first millennium BC, ships from Red Sea and Persian Gulf ports have frequented the Kerala ports. Marine fisheries and related activities also became a major sector of the economy and livelihood since medieval times.

Development in Fisheries and Ports Sector became the focus area of the state government after the creation of the state. Expertise from countries like Norway was also welcomed for the uplift of the marine sector during this time. Harbour Engineering Department, Port Department and Fisheries Department were entrusted with the development activities in this regard.

The details of various fishery harbour projects implemented are furnished below:

Sl. No.	Fishery Harbour	District	Project Cost /AS(Lakhs)	Status
1	Vizhinjam	Trivandrum	1683.15	O
2	Muthalapozhy	Trivandrum	3102,00	O
3	Thangassery	Kollam	4385.50	C
4	Neendakara	Kollam	622.00	C
5	Kayamkulam	Alappuzha	2717.90	C
6	Thottappally	Alappuzha	1823.23	C
7	Chethi (I and II)	Alappuzha	995.00	O
8	Arthungal II	Alappuzha	4939.00	O
9	Chellanam (I and II)	Ernakulam	3490.00	O
10	Munambam	Ernakulam	1952.00	C
11	Chettuva	Thrissur	3024.00	O
12	Ponnani	Malappuram	2759.40	C
13	Beypore	Kozhikode	275.00	C
14	Thanur	Malappuram	4487.00	O
15	Puthiyappa	Kozhikode	962.50	C
16	Koyilandi	Kozhikode	6399.00	O
17	Vellayil	Kozhikode	3930.20	O
18	Chombal	Kozhikode	975.00	C
19	Thalai	Kannur	3479.50	O
20	Moplabay	Kannur	816.00	C
21	Azheekkal	Kannur	1931.00	C
22	Kasaragode	Kasargod	2975.00	O
23	Cheruvathoor	Kasargod	2906.00	O
24	Manjeswaram	Kasargode	4880.00	S