Lok Sabha Question No. 278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Technical-organizational Restructure in Fisheries
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 278 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2021

## Technical-organizational Restructure in Fisheries

## 278. SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

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

(a) the details of efforts being made by the Government for carrying out permanent technicalorganizational restructure in fisheries and aquaculture extension of fishermen and fish farmers in the country;

- (b) whether the fishermen are not able to expand their profession in the dearth of knowledge;
- (c) the details of measures being adopted by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the extent to which the freshwater fishing can be beneficial in the production of fisheries;
- (e) the details thereof; and
- (f) the methodology through which technical knowhow could be extended to the fishermen in the State of Gujarat so that they may augment their production?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c): Recognizing the importance of Fisheries Sector and its growth potential, for giving sustained and focused attention to the sector, the Government of India  has created a separate Department  of  Fisheries  in  February  2019  and  subsequently  created  Ministry  for  Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in June 2019. Department of Fisheries attaches highest priority to fisheries and aquaculture extension among fishers and fish farmers of the country. Currently training  and  extension  is  imparted  by  2  institutes  under  Department  of  Fisheries,  i.e.  Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET) and Fishery Survey of India (FSI),  8  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  research  (ICAR)  instituters  with  their  31  regional centres,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  and  the  respective  state  directorates  alongwith  their institutions.

The Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET) offers comprehensive training programmes covering various disciplines like Nautical Science, Fishing Technology, Marine Engineering, and allied areas, helping to create the technical manpower for marine  operation  including  fishing,  navigation  and  marine  engineering  and  related  shore establishments. The Institute is also providing training to marine fishermen of the coastal states under  capacity  building  training  programme  under  Pradhan  Manri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY).

The Fishery Survey of India (FSI) has the primary responsibility of survey and assessment of fishery  resources  in  the  Indian  Exclusive  Economic  Zone  (EEZ)  and  adjoining  areas  for promoting sustainable exploitation and management of the marine fishery resources. The FSI is providing practical training of fishing operatives, fishermen, fisheries officers and students.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India is providing ocean data, information and advisory services to the fishers, industry, the government and the scientific community.

Eight Fisheries Research Institutes and 31 research centres under Indian Council of Agricultural research (ICAR) located in different geographical regions of the country are disseminating need based technologies online and offline to fish farmers, marine fishermen, inland fishermen and other stakeholders for adopting fishery and aquaculture technologies.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have been functioning as knowledge and resource centre of agricultural  technology  supporting  initiatives  of  public,  private  and  voluntary  sector  for improving the agricultural economy including fishery sector of the district and are linking the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) with extension system and farmers. The KVKs are involved in capacity development of fish farmers and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills on modern agricultural technologies.

ICAR-Central  Institute  of  Freshwater  Aquaculture  (CIFA)  has  developed  and  launched  app 'MatsyaSetu' to educate the fish farmers on breeding, seed production, grow-out technologies and  Better  Management  Practices  (BMP)  of  commercially  important  fishes  on  self-learning basis through online materials and short-videos with practical demonstration.

Further,  Department  of  Fisheries  in  collaboration  with  Agriculture  Skill  Council  of  India (ASCI)  is  developing  'Qualifications  Parks'  for  various  skills  required  in  fisheries  sector  to upgrade the skill levels among the workforce engaged in fisheries sector.

(d)  &  (e):  Freshwater  fishing  and  aquaculture  is  increasing  fish  production  in  the  country  as aquaculture  in  controlled  conditions  within  supplement  environment  yields  better  production compared  to  natural  fisheries.  It  is  seen  that  inland  fish  production  has  increased  from  7.1 Million  Tonnes  to  10.4  Million  Tonnes in last five years.

(f): Technical knowhow about fisheries and aquaculture practices can be extended to fishers and fish  farmers  in  Gujarat  through  the  network  of  Institutions  as  mentioned  above  and  the extension wing of State Fisheries Directorate.

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