G/SCM/Q2/IND/44  
 
13 July 2015  
(15-3591)  Page: 1/3  
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
 SUBSIDIES 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS1 POSED BY NEW ZEALAND REGARDING THE  
NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF INDIA2  
The following communication, dated 10 July 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of India.  
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  Question 1 
 
 Which programmes relate to high seas fi shing as referred to at the October 
2014 meeting of the SCM Committee? 
Reply: 
 
None of the existing fishery subsidy pr ogrammes relate to high seas fishing. 
 
Question 2  
 A number of subsidy programmes relate to fuel (Andhra Pradesh 1a and 1b; 
Goa 3-5; Gujarat 1(i); Karnataka 1; Kerala  1; Maharashtra 2(a) and 3; Odisha 2; 
Tamil Nadu 1): 
o Given the slump in global prices, what does this mean for the subsidy 
programme in terms of how payments are made and the necessity and 
future of the support? 
 
Reply: 
 
The mode of payment on the subsidy programme related to fuel, wherever applicable, has been indicated in column 7 of the subsidy table in India's notification to WTO on fisheries subsidies. 
Indian fishery is basically a small scale enterprise like in most other developing and tropical 
countries, considering the poor economic status of  the fishermen and the difficulties to generate 
resources. These subsidies including other subsidies to the sector are primarily aimed at improving 
socio-economic conditions of poor and traditional coastal fishermen. 
  
                                               
1 G/SCM/Q2/IND/42. 
2 G/SCM/N/253/IND/Suppl.1. G/SCM/Q2/IND/44 
 
- 2 - 
 
  o What are the rates of the fuel subsidy for the following programmes – 
Kerala 1, Maharashtra 2(a) and 3; Odisha 2; Tamil Nadu 1? 
 Reply: 
 Rates of the fuel subsidy are indicated below:  
State  Subsidy Programme related to fuel  Sl. No.  
of the program Rate of fuel subsidy, if 
any.  
Kerala  Fishermen development rebate on HSD oil. 1 
No subsidy has been 
provided during the period of Notification.   Maharashtra  Fisherman Development rebate  on High Speed Diesel 
(HSD) oil. 2(a) 
Odisha  Fishermen development rebate on HSD oil 2 
Tamil Nadu  Reimbursement of Ce ntral Excise Duty 
on High Speed Diesel (HSD) 1 
 
Marine Products Export Development Authority  With regard to the programmes under the Marine Products Export Development 
Authority: 
 Question 3 
 
 How do the programmes related to sea freight assistance (items 30-31) 
contribute to increasing value added exports? Is the reimbursement of the 
financial assistance tied to increasing such value added exports? 
Reply: 
 
Assistance under the scheme is provided for the exports of specified value added products to 
specified markets with an aim to offset the adverse weight-volume ratio of the value added 
products in reefer containers and to offset the freight difference. 
 
Question 4 
 
 What conditionality is attached to the reimbursement for the programmes 
related to export production (items 1-14)? 
Reply: 
 
Conditionality attached to the reimbursement for the programs (1-14) administered by MPEDA 
are: 
 (a) Entity should be registered with MPEDA; 
(b) Assistance is given after completion of work as per the scheme. 
 
Question5 
 
• For items 1-3 (vessel modernisation and constructions), please advise the: 
 
o Catch data for the species affected by the programme; 
o Status of the fish stocks targeted or affected by the programme; 
o Fleet capacity in the fishery affected by the programme; 
o Conservation or management measures in place in the relevant fishery; 
and 
o Comment on the extent to which the programme provides support for the 
reduction of over-capacity and overfishing. 
 G/SCM/Q2/IND/44 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Reply: 
 
No species have been affected by the vessel mo dernisation and construction programme. Potential 
tuna resources as per report of the working group for revalidating the potential of fishery 
resources in the Indian EEZ was 216,500 MT. However the catch was only for 85291 MT 
during 2013. There is no overcapacity and over fishing reported in Indian waters.  
There has been no change in fleet capacity under the program. 
 So far as conservation or management measures in place are concerned, the following instructions/programme ensures the same: 
 
a. Implementation of Marine Fishing Regulation Act in all Maritime states and Union 
territories by the State Govt's/UTs; 
b. Fishing ban on west coast and east coast; and 
c. Restrictions on export of certain fishery products like shark fin, pomfret (<300gm), 
Bechdemer etc. 
 
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