Lok Sabha Question No. 1075 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Impact of Corona on Fisheries Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

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

## LOK SABHA

## ADMITTED QUESTION No. 1075 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## Impact of Corona on Fisheries Sector

## 1075.  SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a) the impact of Corona on fisheries sector, particularly on exports;
- (b) whether any assessment has been made about the losses that fisheries sector suffered due to COVID-19;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  in  the  first  five  months  of  the  current  financial  year,  with  a particular reference to the State of Gujarat; and
- (d) whether  any  help  has  been  given  to  aquaculture  sector  under  Atmanirbhar  Bharat package, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING: (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) COVID-19  pandemic  did  impact  the  fisheries  and  aquaculture  sector  like  any  other sector including exports of fisheries products especially in the first quarter of 2020-21. The lockdown measures put in place by majority of the countries including India during the first half  of  2020-21  caused  decline  in  demand  and  caused  disruptions  in  the  supply  chain. However,  with  easing  of  lockdown  within  India  and  the  efforts  taken  by  Government  to restore  and  maintain  food  supply    chain,  domestic  demand  has  recovered  and  most  states have reported negligible impact on year to year basis. MPEDA has reported a decline of 12% in  marine  exports  in  the  same  period  and  stated  that  from  the  second  quarter  of  2020-21 exports  have  recovered  and  even  registered  an  increase  of  12.8%  over  the  corresponding period of 2019-20. MPEDA has further reported that overall there has been a 6% decline in exports  in  value  terms  during  2020-21  and  that  in  the  first  half  of  2021-22  exports  have recovered.

(b) No formal assessment has been made by the Government about the losses that fisheries sector suffered due to COVID-19.

- (c)  Does not arise.

(d) The Government immediately intervened to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 crisis by announcing  a  number  of  immediate  relief  measures  to  facilitate  uninterrupted  supply  of inputs like seed and feed to the sector and to promote export. In order to mitigate hardship faced by fishers,  fish  farmers,  and  fish  traders,  Government  of  India  permitted  unhindered operations  of  the  fishing  and  aquaculture  industry  including  feeding,  maintenance  & harvesting  in  the  farm,  processing,  packaging,  cold  chain,  sale  and  marketing,  hatcheries, feed  plants,  commercial  aquaria  and  movement  of  inputs,  fish/shrimp,  fish  products  and workers. Besides, advisories were issued to State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) to include fish and shrimp in the list of commodities to be exempted from lockdown and also to allow movement of fish and fish products, of fish seed & feed for fish farmers/fishers and to allow operation of aquaculture farms and other commercial establishments like aquarium shop etc. In addition, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &  Dairying  has  launched  a  flagship  scheme  namely:  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada Yojana  (PMMSY)  as  a  part  of  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  COVID-19  relief  package  with  an estimated investment of Rs. 20050 crores for implementation in all States/UTs over a period of  5  years  starting  from  2020-21.  Under  PMMSY,  during  2020-21  to  2021-22,  the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has accorded approval of project proposals to the  tune  of  Rs.  5917.81  crore  with  a  central  share  of  Rs.  2209.11  crore  to  States/UTs  and other implementing agencies. An amount of Rs. 1311.54 crore has been released to various States/UTs  and  other  implementing  agencies  from  2020-21  to  2021-22  (till  date).    All  the efforts of Government have resulted in mitigation of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on fisheries sector and the sector has revived over the last several months.

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