Lok Sabha Question No. 2074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-15
Subject: Prevention of use of Highspeed Boats
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Manne Srinivas Reddy

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2074 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH MARCH, 2022

## Prevention of use of Highspeed Boats

## 2074. SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY: SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the fishermen have urged the State Governments to take steps to prevent boats with high speed engines from border districts of one State entering into other State for fishing in waters and if so, the details thereof and the action being taken on such boats;
- (b) the number of such boats captured, seized and the details of the owners who had to shell out as fine for each boat and the steps being taken to ensure that errant boats that cut their nets from States do not enter their waters and to use traditional craft and smaller boats; and
- (c) the  details  of  steps  being  taken  against  use  of  boats  with  high  speed  engines  in  coordination  with States?

## ANSWER

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

(a):    The  issues  relating  to  unauthorised  entry  and  illicit  fishing  by  fishing  boats  of  one  State  (i.e.,  Tamil Nadu) in the territorial waters of other State (i.e., Andhra Pradesh) was raised during the 29 th meeting of the Southern Zonal Council held at Tirupati on 14 th November, 2021. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested  for  stopping  unauthorized  entry  and  illicit  fishing  by  Tamil  Nadu  fishing  boats  in  the  territorial waters of Andhra Pradesh and requested to ask their fishermen to fix transponders to fishing vessels and also observe the prescribed colour code for the vessels, to act as deterrent. In response, the Government of Tamil Nadu has inter alia informed that they have ordered 5000 transponders from ISRO and insisting on colour code and registration number on the fishing vessels to ensure that the problem is resolved.

(b):  Regulation of Fishing within the territorial waters is a State Subject and therefore the details regarding number  of  such  boats  captured,  seized  and  details  of  their  owners  etc.  are  not  compiled  by  the  Union Government.

(c): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has constituted a committee on 11 th September, 2018 including  members  from  Coastal  States,  Central  Institute  of  Fisheries  Technology  (CIFT),  Central  Marine Fisheries  Research  Institute  (CMFRI),  Marine  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (MPEDA),  etc.  to look into the aspects of high power engine boats. The CIFT has made the recommendations relating to length, size and horsepower of fishing boats. The Coastal States were advised for carrying out necessary amendments in  their  Marine  Fishing  Regulation  Acts  (MFRAs) to maintain the  uniformity of overall length and engine capacity  of  Fishing  Boats  registered  under  Merchant  Shipping  Act,  1958  and  to  ensure  sustainable exploitation of marine fishery resources. The Government of Kerala has already amended its MFRA. Besides, the Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have also taken action to limit the use of high power engine boats.