Lok Sabha Question No. 3663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-10
Subject: Traditional Fish Farming
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Ranjan Singh Rajkumar

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3663 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th DECEMBER, 2019

## Traditional Fish Farming

## 3663 . DR. RAJKUMAR RANJAN SINGH

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

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  the  livelihoods  of  fisherfolks  traditionally dependent on lnland fishing particularly in Loktak lake of Manipur;
- (b)  whether  there  is  a  policy  in  the  making  for  welfare  and  protection  of  inland  fisherfolk entitlements and traditional rights of the fisherfolks of Loktak lake;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  regulating  mechanisms  put  in  place  at  district,  State  and  National  levels  for  monitoring private corporate, organised business involved in commercial fishing work?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) : The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme  (CSS)  on  Blue Revolution: Integrated Development  and  Management  of  Fisheries  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the State  Governments/UTs  to  support  the  fishermen  for  procurement  of  Craft  &  Gear  for  fishing, Establishment of Hatcheries, setting up of Fish Seed Rearing units including input cost, Cage/Pen culture, post harvest facilities such as ice plants, cold storages, insulated and referigirated trucks, fish  marketing  facilities,  Saving-cum-Relief  during  fishing  ban  period,  Housing  for  Fishers, Insurance to fishers. Besides, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) has also supported for stocking of fingerling in Loktak Lake during two financial years, which includes stocking of 50 lakh fingerling during 2015-16 and stocking of 12.50 lakh fingerling during 2018-19 in the Loktak Lake.

Government  of  Manipur  has  reported  that  the  Loktak  Development  Authority  (LDA), Manipur  has  been  implementing  livelihood  improvement  programmes  for  the  fisher  folks  from time-to-time.    Fishers  are  also  assisted  in  alternative  income  generation  programmes  through poultry, Piggery and Paddy cum Pisciculture activities by the LDA.  It is further reported that as a community based fish farming approach in the peripheral areas of the Lake, Hatcheries have been established at various locations and through these infrastructures, fish stocking and liberation in the Lake has been taken up from time-to-time by LDA, Manipur. It is also intimated that a feed mill has also been established by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Manipur to ensure continuous supply  of  quality  fish  feed  at  Government  controlled  rate.  It  is  further  reported  that  in  order  to facilitate  availing  of  financial  credit  loans,  the  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  Manipur has tied up with 17 Nos of Banks. Further, as  reported by Government of Manipur, though there is no policy, fishing rights are given to all fisherfolks in and around the Loktak Lake. The Government of  Manipur has  reported that any commercial activities undertaken in  Loktak  Lake  are regulated under the provisions of 'The Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006'.

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