Steps to boost fisheries, aquaculture; tackle threat to Blue Economy

Subhasish Mitra (Wide Angle)

Recognizing the potential of fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries, under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has since 2015 substantially stepped-up investments in fisheries sector through schemes worth Rs. 38,572 crore for holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture and welfare of fishermen in the country including in West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

 

The schemes include: (i) Blue Revolution Scheme implemented from FY2015-16 to 2019-20 with central outlay of Rs 3,000 crore for mobilizing of a total investment of Rs. 5,000 crore, (ii) Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund implemented from FY2018-19 with a fund size of Rs. 7,522.48 crore, (iii) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented from FY2020-21 to 2024-25 with an investment of Rs. 20,050 crore, (iv) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY) implemented from the FY2023-24 to 2026-27 with a total outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore.

 

In addition, the Government of India has extended the facility of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to the fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.

 

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during the last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current year(2024-25) has accorded approvals to the fisheries developmental proposals of various State Governments, Union Territories and other implementation agencies amounting to Rs.20,990.79 crore with central share of Rs.8,926.28 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country.

 

This includes (i) proposals of Government of West Bengal approved at a cost of Rs.544.39 crore with central share of Rs.225.55 crore and (ii) proposals of Andaman & Nicobar Administration approved at a cost of Rs.58.67 crore with central share of Rs.31.23 crore under PMMSY. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampadha Yojana (PMMSY) inter-alia provides adoption of a cluster-based approach to enhance the competitiveness of the fisheries sector, facilitate economies of scale, generate higher incomes, accelerate the growth, expansion of fisheries and aquaculture in an organized manner in cluster-based approach.

 

The Department of Fisheries has issued the “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Production and Processing Clusters in Fisheries Sector” to all the State Governments and Union Territories for implementation of clusters in various field of fisheries and aquaculture under PMMSY. The States and UTs have been advised to implement the clusters based approach for development of fisheries and aquaculture. Based on the request received from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, development of Tuna fisheries cluster in Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been notified under PMMSY.

 

The 'National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017, notified by the Government of India, provides guiding principles of conservation and optimum utilization of fisheries resources for ensuring sustainability. The Department of Fisheries, as a conservation measure, has been implementing fishing ban in India’s EEZ along the east and west coasts annually during the major breeding season of the commercial fish species. On the east coast, including the coasts of West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar, the fishing ban is implemented annually from April 15 to June 15.

 

The States and UTs, through their Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, also regulates fishing activities in the state's and UT’s territorial waters to support the sustainable management of fisheries. In addition, the Government of India has prohibited harmful fishing practices, such as pair or bull trawling, and the use of LED or artificial lights for fishing within the EEZ.

 

Threat to Blue Economy

 

The government  has also taken note of the imminent threat to the Blue Economy posed by climate change, which may affect the livelihoods of fishermen and other coastal communities.

 

In this regard, the Department of Fisheries, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in consultation with the coastal State Governments, has identified 100 coastal fishermen villages situated close to the coastline as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV). The activities promoted in the identified coastal fishermen villages under PMMSY are need-based facilities, including development of common facilities like fish drying yards, fish processing centers, fish markets, fishing jetties, ice plants, cold storages, and emergency rescue facilities.

 

The Government is also promoting climate-resilient livelihoods like aquaculture, especially the mariculture of seaweed, food and ornamental fishes, bivalves etc. through the schemes of the Department of Fisheries. Further, for livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fisher’s families during fish ban/lean period and insurance cover to fishers are also provided under the PMMSY scheme. Additionally, the ICAR-Fisheries Research Institutes have been contributing to promote inland and marine aquaculture activities through ongoing research, technology development, and capacity-building programs with funding support of the Government of India.

 

To combat marine plastic pollution, particularly from fishing and maritime sectors, the Department of Fisheries has been actively engaged in the global and regional efforts like Glolitter Partnership Project and Reglitter Project both of which are jointly implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Food, and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO).

 

These projects focus on preventing and reducing Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) from sea-based sources, with an emphasis on addressing abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and wastes from ships. The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and NORAD with co-financing from member countries and being implemented by the FAO in partnership with regional organizations viz. Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) in its member countries, including India. The BOBLME Project is promoting the concept of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) that aims to integrate ecological health, social equity, and economic sustainability, ensuring that fisheries management addresses broader ecosystem and community needs.