Lok Sabha Question No. 122 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-26
Subject: 61-Day Fishing Ban
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Sanjeev Kumar Singari, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION No. 122 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2022

## 61-DAY FISHING BAN

## *122:   DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI: SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received any demands to increase the livelihood support during the annual 61-day fishing ban across the East Coast;
- (b) if so, the response of the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that Rs. 4,500 as compensation per family is meagre and not competitive with market standards;
- (d) if so, the additional steps that are being taken to support fishermen by increasing the Central compensation to around Rs. 15,000; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  considered  waiving  payment  of  Rs.  1,500  that  the beneficiary has to make to become eligible for compensation considering the hardships of the pandemic and the vulnerable position of fishermen and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (e) :    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. 122 regarding '61-DAY FISHING BAN' put in by Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Singari and Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Hon'ble Members of Parliament, for answer on 26-07-2022

(a) to (e): The uniform fishing ban of 61 days in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is implemented based on the scientific advise for conservation and effective management of fishery resources, which is essential to allow regeneration of fish stocks, ensure sustainability and livelihood protection of small-scale and traditional fishermen. To address the livelihood issues  during  such  fishing  ban,  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY) implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,  Government  of  India  provides  livelihood  and  nutritional  support  for  socioeconomically backward active traditional fisher's families during the fishing ban/lean period. Under  this  scheme,  the  Governmental  financial  assistance  of  Rs.  3,000/-  per  annum  is provided to each enrolled beneficiary and the enrolled beneficiary's contribution is Rs. 1,500/annually.  Such accumulated amount of Rs. 4,500/- is disbursed to each enrolled beneficiary by  the  respective  State/  Union  Territory  (UT).  This  is  a  financial  assistance  provided  to fishermen  during  fishing  ban/lean  period  and  not  a  compensation.  The  PMMSY  is implemented  as  a  part  of  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  Package  with  an  estimated  investment  of Rs.20,050 crores in all States/UTs over a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. The scheme has several activities to provide additional or alternative livelihood opportunities to supplement  the  incomes  of  marine  fishermen.  These  activities inter  alia include  seaweed cultivation, marine cage cultivation, fish marketing outlets like fish kiosks, mobile vending outlets, support to take up brackish water aquaculture, provision of deep sea fishing vessels to traditional fishermen to diversify their fishing activities, accidental insurance, training and capacity building, financial support during annual fish ban/lean period etc. In addition, the facility of Kisan Credit card (KCC) has also been extended to fishermen and fish-farmers. The above initiatives  show  that  in  addition  to  financial  support  during  fishing  ban  period,  the endeavour  of  the  Government  of  India  is  to  uplift  the  socio-economic  status  of  marine fishermen  for  their  all-round  development  through  diverse  activities/initiatives.  Further, beneficiary  contribution  of  Rs.  1500/-  has  been  insisted  upon  to  promote  thrift  among fishermen.

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