Lok Sabha Question No. 1178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Welfare of Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1178 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## Welfare of Fishermen

## 1178. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

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

- (a) the details of steps taken to assist the fishermen of the country who are facing financial crunch due to trolling ban by various State Governments;
- (b) whether the Government has any uniform policy on trolling ban in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government noticed the issue of ban on construction of their dwelling units nearby sea shore due to Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZs); and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to ensure the welfare of fishermen of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a)  & (b): The uniform ban on fishing for 61 days is implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India on both the coasts ( i.e ., 15 th  April to 14 th  June in the East Coast, and 1 st  June to 31 st  July in the West Coast) based on the recommendations of the Technical Committee and in consultation with the coastal States/Union Territories (UTs). Similarly, the coastal States/UTs are also implementing the fishing ban within their territorial waters in line with the uniform ban implemented in the EEZ. The DoF, GoI under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  provides  livelihood  and  nutritional  support  for socio-economically  backward  active  traditional  fishers  during  the  fishing  ban/lean period.  Livelihood  and  nutritional  support  for  5,99,284  fisher  families  during  fishing ban/lean period annually at a total investment of Rs.1062.78 crores has been provided under the PMMSY.
- (c) & (d): As informed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India, the CRZ Notifications were issued with a view to conserve and protect the unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas while ensuring livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities in the coastal areas and promoting sustainable development based on scientific principles. The CRZ Notification provides  for  livelihood  security  to  the  fisherman  community.  While  there  are  strict regulations for construction, industrial, commercial  setups  and  also  residential buildings, the CRZ notification protects the interests of the fisher community by means of suitable enabling provisions even in the No Development Zone (NDZ) of the CRZ. Facilities associated with livelihoods of fishing community such as fish drying yards, net mending yards, traditional boat building yards, ice plants, ice crushing units, auction walls, fish curing facilities etc. have been permitted in the NDZ. Fisher communities and other local communities have also been permitted to repair or reconstruct their dwelling units, as per their traditional rights in the NDZ. Besides, financial assistance under the PMMSY is provided to fishers for the Group Accident Insurance Scheme, boats (as replacement) and nets for traditional fishermen,  support for  acquisition  of  deep-sea fishing vessels for traditional fishermen and up gradation of existing fishing vessels for export  competency,  communication and tracking devices, and safety kits to ensure safety of fishermen while at sea, assistance for mariculture including open-sea cage culture and seaweed cultivation. To facilitate smooth fishing operations and improve the value realization to fishers, financial support is  also provided under PMMSY for development  of  fisheries  infrastructure  such  as  fishing  harbours  and  fish  landing centers,  post-harvest  and  cold  chain  facilities,  fish  transport  units,  fish  markets, processing and value added enterprise units etc.

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