Lok Sabha Question No. 2392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Impact of Covid-19 on Fishing Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, Kani K. Navas

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  MARCH, 2021

## IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON FISHING SECTOR

## 2392. ADV ADOOR PRAKASH: SHRI K. NAVASKANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the fishing sector in the country is facing deep crisis after the spread of COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b) if  so, the  estimated  loss  incurred  by  fisheries sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  supportive  measures/steps  for  the  struggling fishermen and lakhs of people depending on this sector for their livelihood and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  number  of  people  who  have  lost  their  jobs  in  this  sector  due  to  the  COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, State-wise especially in the State of Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  considering  a  special  scheme  for  compensating  the  job  loss among fishermen and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): During the initial days of the lockdown, like other sectors,  the fisheries sector was also impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate the impact, the Central and State/Union Territories (UTs) Governments took several initiatives. For supporting fishermen, fish farmers and fish workers, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India vide its order dated 10 th April, 2020 allowed commencement of operations of the fishing(marine)/aquaculture industry including  feeding  &  maintenance,  harvesting,  processing,  packaging,  cold  chain,  sale  and marketing,  hatcheries,  feed  plants,  commercial  aquaria,  movement  of  fish/shrimp  and  fish products, seed/feed and workers. Further, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  with  a  view  to  avoid  adverse  impact  on  fisheries  due  to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, issued advisory to State Governments/ UTs to include fish and shrimp in the list of commodities to exempt from lockdown and also allow movement of fish  and  fish  products,  fish  seed  &  fish  feed  for fish-farmers/fishers,  aquaculture  farms  and

other  commercial establishments  like aquarium  shop etc.  In order to  support the fishermen, fish  farmers,  fish workers and  lakhs of people depending on this sector for their livelihood, the Government of India has launched a new flagship scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat COVID-19 relief package with highest  ever  investment  of  Rs.  20050  crore  in  fisheries  sector  for  a  period  of  5  years  with effect  from  the  financial  year  2020-21  for  implementation  in  all  States/Union  Territories including Tamil  Nadu. Under PMMSY, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has approved the proposals of Government of Tamil Nadu for various fisheries developmental activities which includes establishment of new freshwater finfish  hatcheries,  construction  of  Biofloc  ponds,  establishment  of  open  sea  cages,  seaweed culture  rafts  including  inputs,  ornamental  fish  rearing  unit,  providing  boats  and  nets  for traditional  fishermen  etc.  All  the  efforts  of  government  have  resulted  in  mitigation  of  the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fisheries sector and the sector has revived over last few months.

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