Lok Sabha Question No. 29 (STARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Privatisation of Fisheries Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *29 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  NOVEMBER, 2021

## Privatisation of Fisheries Sector

## *29. SHRI HIBI EDEN :

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

- (a) the details of steps taken/being taken by the Government for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector;
- (b) whether it is a fact that the fishermen in the country were against privatization of fisheries resources and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the fact that fishermen in the country have risen as one against  the  draft  policy  framework  on  India's  blue  economy  which  envisages  using  marine resources for development and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken any decision regarding Draft Blue Economy Policy for the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  expected  date  of  execution  and  if  not,  the current status thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES,ANIMAL HUSBANDRYAND DAIRYING

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (d):  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 *29 put in by Shri Hibi  Eden,  Member  of  Parliament  for  answer  on  30 th November,  2021  regarding Privatization of Fisheries Sector.

(a) The Department of Fisheries in Government of Indiahas been implementing policies and schemes for sustainable development of fisheries sector. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on  Blue  Revolution:  Integrated  Development  and  Management  of  Fisheries  was  implemented during  2015-16  to  2019-20  with  a  vision  of  creating  an  enabling  environment  for  integrated development of the full potential offisheries of the country, alongwith substantial improvement in the income status offishers and fish farmers keeping in view the sustainability, bio-security and  environmentalconcerns.Subsequently,  Government  of  India  in  May,  2020  approved  a flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampada Yojana' (PMMSY) a scheme to bring about Blue  Revolution  through  sustainable  and  responsible  development  of  fisheries  sector  in  the country. PMMSY is being implemented for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all States and Union Territories.

Besides, the Government of India has notified the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 that provides the guidance to explore and sustainably use oceanic fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zoneof India.

Government of Indiaalso advise the Coastal States and Union Territories from time to time to issue  necessary  Orders  to  prohibit  destructive  fishing  methods  including  LED  light  fishing, pair/bull trawling.

In addition, uniform fishing ban is implemented in the Indian EEZ for a period of 61 days on East  Coast  and  the  West  Coast.  However,  the  traditional  non-motorized  fishing  vessels  are exempted from this uniform fishing ban imposed in the Indian EEZ beyond territorial waters.

(b) Government of India has no proposal to privatize the fisheries sector.

(c) and (d) Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is steering the draft National Policy for India's Blue Economy-2021 (NPIBE-2021) as the nodal Ministry and as per the information received from MoES, the draft policy on India's Blue Economy framework is under consideration.

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