Lok Sabha Question No. 2299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Decline in Shark Landings
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, S. RAJENDRAN, BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN, SUDHEER GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2299

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st JULY, 2018

## DECLINE IN SHARK LANDINGS

## 2299.SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

## Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a sharp decline in the share of sharks in the total fish landings and some shark species have completely vanished from the Indian coastal waters;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year along with  the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has prepared an action plan for conservation and management of sharks and other vanished species in India;
- (d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  banned  capturing  of  some  species  of  fish  which  are  declared  as endangered in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  the  other proactive steps taken/ being taken by the Government to savethese natural predators from external extinction?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE& FARMER's WELFARE:

(SMT. KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) & (b) There was a decline in the share of sharks in the total fish landings during the last three years from 0.67% in 2015 to 0.52% in 2017. There is no evidence for any shark species which have completely vanished from Indian coastal waters. The estimated landings data of shark for the last three years are given below, and the data for the current year (2018) is yet to be estimated.
- (c) & (d) Yes, Madam. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has formulated the Guidance on National Plan of Action for Sharks (NPOA), 2015. Besides, the CMFRI has also prepared a Non-Detriment Findings (NDF) documents on the status of different shark species

|   Year |   Catch of sharks (Tons) | Percentage share of sharks in total fish landings   |
|--------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|   2015 |                    23595 | 0.67%                                               |
|   2016 |                    23002 | 0.62%                                               |
|   2017 |                    19777 | 0.52%                                               |

and  organized  stakeholder  consultations,  awareness  campaigns  across  the  country  to  increase fishermen participation in shark conservation and management of these species.

- (e) In 2001, ten species of sharks are declared protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)  Act,  1972.    Exploitation  and  trade  of  these  species  are  banned  and  declared  as punishable offences.
- (f)  In order to protect and conserve Shark species, ban is imposed by the Government of India on (i) removal of shark fins on board the fishing vessels and (ii) export of shark fins of all species. In addition,  regulated  fishing  practices  also  help  in  conservation  of  sharks,  viz.  demarcation  of Marine Protected Areas, fixing Minimum Legal Size (MLS), gear-specific mesh size regulations, gear restrictions, ban on pair trawling, introduction of by-catch reduction devicesand uniform ban on fishing for 61 days in both the coasts.

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