Matsyakarula Sevalo (Fishing-Ban Relief for Fishermen Families)
₹20,000 per fishermen family, paid straight into the bank account for the months the sea is closed to fishing.
Run by: Department of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh
- Aid per family
- ₹20,000
- Fishing ban
- 15 Apr – 14 Jun (61 days)
- 2026 payout
- ₹262 crore, about 1.30 lakh families
- How it is paid
- Direct to bank account
Overview
Every year Andhra Pradesh bans sea fishing for 61 days, from 15 April to 14 June, so that fish can breed. Boats stay on shore and fishing families lose their income. Matsyakarula Sevalo is the state's cash help for exactly this gap. News reports also refer to the same aid as Matsyakara Bharosa.
The aid is ₹20,000 per eligible fishermen family. On 19 May 2026 Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu released ₹262 crore to about 1.30 lakh families (Deccan Chronicle). In Tirupati district alone, 3,099 fishermen received ₹6.19 crore (Hans India, 20 May 2026).
The amount has doubled in two years. In May 2024 each beneficiary got ₹10,000 — ₹123.52 crore to 1,23,519 people (ICSF). In 2025 the state paid about ₹243 crore to roughly 1.21 lakh families (Deccan Chronicle), and in 2026 the rate stood at ₹20,000.
The ban applies to mechanised and motorised boats. Traditional non-motorised boats are not banned from fishing, but the minister said that owners and workers of non-motorised boats are covered by the aid as well (Hans India).
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- ₹20,000 per eligible fishermen family for the fishing-ban period.
- Money goes directly into the bank account — in 2026 it was credited on 19 May, during the ban.
- Owners and workers of non-motorised boats are covered too, even though their boats are not banned.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Fishermen family in Andhra Pradesh whose income is hit by the annual sea fishing ban
- Name must be on the list of eligible families prepared by the Fisheries Department
- Owners and workers of non-motorised boats are included
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account passbook (Aadhaar-linked and active)
- Boat registration and fishing licence (for boat owners)
- Proof that you work on a fishing boat (for crew members)
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Check your name before the ban starts
Ask your fishermen society or the district Fisheries Department office whether your family is on the eligible list. Do this in March–April, before the 15 April ban.
- 2
Keep your bank account ready
Make sure the bank account is active and linked with your Aadhaar. The money is sent directly to this account.
- 3
Wait for the payment in May
The aid has been released in mid-to-late May in recent years (16 May 2024, 19 May 2026). Check your bank balance or passbook.
- 4
Raise it if your family is left out
If you fish for a living but did not get the money, go to the district Fisheries Department office with your documents and ask to be added or rechecked.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- First, meet the Assistant Director / Joint Director of Fisheries of your district with your boat or crew proof.
- For escalation, use Spandana, the state grievance system: spandana.ap.gov.in or call 1902.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does a family get?
₹20,000 per eligible fishermen family for the fishing-ban period. It was ₹10,000 in May 2024.
When is the fishing ban and when is the money paid?
The sea ban runs 15 April to 14 June (61 days). The aid has come in mid-to-late May — 19 May in 2026.
Is Matsyakarula Sevalo the same as Matsyakara Bharosa?
News reports use both names for the same ban-period aid. Matsyakarula Sevalo is the name used in the 2026 announcements.
I work on a small non-motorised boat. Am I covered?
Yes. Traditional non-motorised boats are not under the ban, but the minister said their owners and workers also receive the aid.
Do I have to fill an online form?
The announcements say the money is credited directly to eligible families; they do not describe an online form. Check with your district fisheries office whether your family is already listed.
Are there age or income limits?
The 2026 announcements we could verify do not state any. Older rules you may see on private websites were not confirmed from an official source, so ask the fisheries office.
Facts checked against fisheries.ap.gov.in on 4 October 2026. editorial policy.