Lok Sabha Question No. 139 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Training to Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Anubhav Mohanty

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *139 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## Training to Fishermen

## *139. SHRI ANUBHAV MOHANTY :

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

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal for providing necessary awareness and training to the fishermen about the International Maritime Boundary Line so that they are careful while fishing in deepwater particularly in view of the Judgement of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at Hague;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, by what time and the manner in which the Government proposes to improve the awareness among the fishermen in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

(SHRIPARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (c):   A Statement is placed on the Table of the House.

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## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  the  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No  139  put  in  by Anubhav Mohanty, Member of Parliament for answer on  7 th December, 2021 regarding Training to Fishermen

- (a) to (c):  The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying issues advisory to coastal States and Union Territories (UTs) from time to time to sensitize the  fishermen  on  the  implications  of  crossing  the  International  Maritime  Boundary  Line (IMBL)  and  on  the  importance  of  not  to  cross  IMBL.  Besides,  Indian  Navy  and  Indian Coast  Guard  (ICG)  regularly  conduct  Community  Interaction  Programmes  (CIPs)  for  the fishermen in the coastal villages wherein they are sensitised about IMBL among other safety and  security  measures.  ICG  ships  and  aircraft,  during  regular  patrol  close  to  IMBL undertake shepherding of Indian fishing boats into Indian waters. Co-ordinated patrols with neighbouring  countries  are  also  undertaken  in  order  to  sensitize  the  fishermen  to  avoid crossing  IMBL.  ICG  also  sensitizes  Fisheries  Departments  of  Coastal  States/UTs  and fisheries  associations  about  the  perils  of  fishing  near/across  IMBL.  Enhanced  CIPs  are conducted  among  fisher  folk  emphasizing  on  adverse  implications  for  illegal  entry  and dangers involved in crossing IMBL. Since 2011, Indian Coast Guards have conducted 7,855 Community  Interactions. Standard Operating Procedures have been  promulgated by Ministry of Home Affairs in November, 2016 to prevent transgression of IMBL by Indian fishermen.  The  flagship  scheme  'Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana'  (PMMSY) being implemented by Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying provides support to traditional fishermen/fishermen's groups, to acquire deep sea fishing vessels and Automatic Information System/communication devises and support for training and capacity building to avoid crossing IMBL and instead to fish in other areas within Exclusive Economic Zone farther away from their bases. In addition, PMMSY also supports fitment of communication and/or tracking devices, and GPS onboard fishing boats in order to help the fishermen to avoid straying across IMBL.

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