Lok Sabha Question No. 4915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-23
Subject: Fishery Survey of India
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dhanush M Kumar, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4915

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2019

## 'FISHERY SURVEY OF INDIA'

4915. SHRI SUNIL  DATTARAY  TATKARE: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR: DR. HEENA GAVIT: DR.  SUBHASH  RAMRAO  BHAMRE:  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SULE:  DR.  AMOL  RAMSING KOLHE:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state :

- ( a)  the main function and the objective for setting up the Fishery Survey of India;
- (b)  the  total  funds/financial  assistance  provided  by  the  Government  to  the  Fishery  Survey  of  India during the last three years, State-wise;
- (c)  whether the Fishery Survey of India prepares the annual Fishery Resource Survey, Assessment and Research programme, if so, the details of survey conducted during the last three years;
- (d) whether the survey has helped in increasing the production of fisheries in the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  optimizing  fish  production  as  well  as  promoting fisheries regulation, ensuring resources conservation and environment protection?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING: (SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)

(a)  The  main  function  and  objective  of  setting  up  the  Fishery  Survey  of  India  (FSI)  is  to  conduct exploratory fishery resources survey, distribution and stock assessment of marine fishery resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The objectives are (i) Exploratory surveys, charting of fishing  grounds,  assessment  of  fish  stocks  in  the  Indian  EEZ  including  adjoining  high  seas  and research thereof besides the specific surveys on request from the States and Union Territories, (ii) Data  collection  and  periodic  re-validation  of  potential  of  fishery  resources  to  provide  advice  on fishery management issues enshrined in the national, regional and global conventions and agreements and  other  associated  activities,  (iii)  Monitoring  surveys  of  fishery  resources  in  the  exploited  areas including  coral  reefs,  application  of  Monitoring,  Control  and  Surveillance  (MCS)  for  regulating fishing  activities  and  promoting  Code  of  Conduct  for  Responsible  Fisheries  (CCRF)  in  the  Indian EEZ, (iv) Maintain Data Bank and disseminate information on fishery resources to the end-users and act  as  an  interface  between  the  States/UTs  and  the  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  & Dairying,  Government  of  India  for  Marine  and  Inland  fish  Production  and  related  aspects,  (v) Assessment of suitability of fishing gear, accessories and equipment with special reference to the preservation  of  environment  and  ecology  of  marine  habitat,  (vi)  Fish  stock  identification  and biodiversity  studies  including  application  of  genetic  tools  and  techniques,(vii)  Marine  fisheries forecasting  including  application  of  remote  sensing  for  the  benefit  of  artisanal,  mechanized  and industrial  sectors  and  (viii)  Human  Resource  Development  through  practical  training  of  fishing operatives, fishermen, fisheries officers and students.

- (b) Total grants released by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India to the Fishery Survey of India during the last three years are given below. The grant released to FSI is used for meeting the expenditure and functioning of the organization including Zonal bases and not for releasing funds to the States.
- (c) & (d) Yes Sir. The FSI conducts exploratory marine fishery resources survey continuously every month and the data collected through the survey are analyzed for estimates on stock assessment of major  fisheries  resources  in  the  EEZ  and  research  programmes  are  also  undertaken.  Exploratory survey are conducted in the entire EEZ of both east and west coast adopting fishing methods like demersal trawling, long lining etc deploying the survey vessels attached with the six different Bases of FSI viz; Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Port Blair. Further, the estimates on fishery resources made are used for estimation of marine fisheries potential in the EEZ of the country. The results of survey are disseminated to the end users for sustainable harvest of marine fisheries and thus the survey has helped the fishing sector in the country.
- (e) The Central Government is mandated to control and regulate fisheries in the EEZ, i.e. ,  the  area from  12  to  200  nautical  miles  with  appropriate  legislation  and  the  State/Union  Territories  (UT) Governments  are  implementing  their  respective  'Marine  Fishing  Regulation  Act(s)'  (MFRAs)  to ensure sustainable fishing practices in the territorial waters. The National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017  proposes  to  keep  sustainability  of  the  resources  at  the  core  of  all  actions.  Besides,  the Department is issuing advisories to all maritime States / UTs for observing sustainable fisheries with appropriate conservation and fishery management measures.

| Sl.No   | Year    |   Grants provided by the Government (Rs. in lakh) |
|---------|---------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | 2016-17 |                                           5943.26 |
| 2       | 2017-18 |                                           5081.76 |
| 3       | 2018-19 |                                           5456.07 |
| Total   | Total   |                                          16481.1  |

*****