Tamil Nadu raises fishing‑ban relief to ₹7,000 per family

The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay increased the financial assistance provided to traditional fisher families during the annual fishing ban. The relief amount was raised from ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 per family, covering an estimated 1.93 million families across the state. An allocation of ₹135 crore was earmarked in the 2026‑27 budget for the higher assistance.

In addition to the cash aid, the state will continue to supply eligible fishers with diesel and kerosene at subsidised rates and invest in fisheries infrastructure such as harbours, landing centres and fish farms. A new initiative encourages traditional fishers to shift to deep‑sea fishing; the scheme offers interest‑subsidy assistance for boats equipped with modern processing facilities, with ₹12 crore set aside for the programme. The measures aim to improve livelihoods, modernise the sector and reduce pressure on near‑shore fish stocks.