NEW DELHI, 06 June 2018 : During the last four year, fish production in India has also grown by 27% in 2014-18 as compared to 2010-14.
However, India has attained first position with around 14% average annual growth in the export of fish & fishery products in the last decade, the Indian Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said while addressing the Fisheries Ministers of Coastal states and Union Territories.
Singh further added that owing to low prospects of fisheries production along the coast, the government has decided to promote deep sea fishing and has introduced a sub-component 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing' under the Blue Revolution.
Under this scheme, self-help groups of traditional fishermen are being given 50 per cent of the vessel cost i.e. the central assistance of INR 4 million for vessel costing up to INR 8 million.
Advanced and modern deep sea fishing vessels will be built in the country by indigenous technology.
He informed that in the first year, central funds amounting to more than INR 300 crore have been released for the implementation of this scheme benefitting fishermen from states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Singh also stated that the Government has made a budget provision of INR 7,522.48 crore for the establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FAIDF) which has the potential to benefit 4 million marine and inland fishermen, especially women, self-help groups, weaker sections by making available modern infrastructure facilities and increased value of the produce.
The minister underlined that like farmers, fishermen will also get the benefit of 'Kisan Credit Card'.
Expressing happiness on notifying the new "National Policy on Marine Fisheries" bt the Ministry of Agriculture on May 1, 2017 after detailed discussions with stakeholders, he said this will promote the integrated development of marine fisheries in the country for the next 10 years. For an effective implementation of the policy, the Centre and the coastal states will have to work together.
Singh said according to estimates by scientists, existing marine fisheries’ resources are over-exploited up to 200 meters depth from the mainland, thereby posing serious threat to the livelihood of traditional fishermen. The area of 200 meters depth lies within 12 nautical miles and is a subject matter of state governments. Therefore, under the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, a sustainable and responsible fishing must be ensured by the states. He appealed to the state governments to take all necessary steps to ensure sustainable fishing.
He appealed the States to fix fleet size, gear size, minimum legal size of fish, and minimum net size in their respective territorial waters to ensure proper utilization of marine fishery resources through fisheries management.
Agriculture Minister further informed that the Central Government has imposed a ban on the use of harmful fishing methods in EEZ such as LED or artificial light and pair trawling on November 10, 2017.
He appealed to all the states to stop such harmful practices in their respective territorial waters and also called upon the states to adopt mariculture to increase the income of fishermen.