Lok Sabha Question No. 1189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: National Policy on Marine Fisheries
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMNAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1189 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  December, 2018

## 'NATIONAL POLICY ON MARINE FISHERIES'

## 1189: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has notified the 'National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017' and if so, the details thereof, including the salient features and the objectives of the Policy;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  included  a  sub-component  'Assistance  for  Deep-Sea Fishing' under Blue Revolution and if so, the amount allocated during the year 2018-19 ;
- (c) the estimated fish production in the country during the year 2017;
- (d) the  measures  taken  to  adopt  reforms  towards  responsible  and  sustainable  fisheries  to optimally utilize fishery resources;
- (e) whether the Government has included 'Mariculture' under Blue Revolution Scheme; and
- (f) the objectives of setting up of National Fisheries Development Board?

## ANSWER

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

(SMT. KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  The  'National  Policy  on  Marine  Fisheries,  2017'  (NPMF,  2017)  has  been notified  on  28 th April,  2017.  The  main  objective  is  to  ensure  the  healthy  and  ecological integrity  of  the  marine  fisheries  resources  of  India's  Exclusive  Economic  Zone  (EEZ) through sustainable harvests for the benefit of present and future generations of the nation. The  overall  strategy  of  the  NPMF,  2017  and  salient  features  are  sustainable  fisheries development, socio-economic  upliftment  of  fishers,  principle  of  subsidiarity,  partnership, inter-generational equity, gender justice and precautionary approach.
- (b) Yes,  Madam.  A  sub-component  'Assistance  for  Deep-Sea  Fishing'  has  been  included under Blue Revolution Scheme. The scheme is demand driven, hence, prior allocation for this  sub-component  is  not  made  and  the  assistance  is  released  based  on  the  proposals received from the States/UTs. An amount of Rs.30630.40 lakh was released during the year 2017-18  for  this  component  to  Coastal  States  /  UTs,  whereas  the  current  financial  year 2018-19 is not yet completed.
- (c) The  estimated  fish  production  in  the  country  during  the  year  2017-18  is  12.61  Million Metric Tonnes.
- (d) The  'NPMF,  2017'  has  been  promulgated  to  guide  the  actions  of  various  stakeholders towards  responsible  and  sustainable  fisheries  and  to  optimally  utilize  marine  fishery resources.  Besides,  a  Committee  of  Experts  has  also  been  constituted  to  suggest  the 'National Policy for Inland Fisheries'.
- (e) Yes, Madam. 'Mariculture' is already included under the Blue Revolution Scheme.
- (f) The  objectives  of  setting  up  of  National  Fisheries  Development  Board  are  (i)  to  bring activities  relating  to  fisheries  and  aquaculture  for  focused  attention  and  professional management,  (ii)  to  coordinate  activities  pertaining  to  fisheries  undertaken  by  different Ministries/Departments in the Central Government  and also coordinate with the State/Union  Territory  Governments,  (iii)  to  improve  production,  processing,  storage, transport  and  marketing  of  the  products  of  capture  and  culture  fisheries,  (iv)  to  achieve sustainable  management  and  conservation  of  natural  aquatic  resources  including  the  fish stocks, (v) to apply modern tools of research and development including biotechnology for optimizing production and productivity from fisheries, (vi) to provide modern infrastructure mechanisms  for  fisheries  and  ensure  their  effective  management  and optimum utilization, (vii) to generate substantial employment, (viii) to train and empower women in the fisheries sector and (ix) to enhance contribution of fish towards food and nutritional security.

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