The Department is headed by the Commissioner/ Director of Fisheries. The Commissioner/ Director of Fisheries is also the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation Limited (TNFDC Ltd.,), the Functional Registrar of all Fishermen Cooperative Societies including Tamil Nadu State Apex Fisheries Co-operative Federation Ltd., (TAFCOFED) and the Member Secretary of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board (TNFWB).