Lok Sabha Question No. 3990 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Assistant to Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3990 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  MARCH, 2025

## Assistant to Fishermen

## 3990. Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying 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) the details of exports of fish and imports during the last three years, particularly from Tamil Nadu; and
- (d) the steps taken to increase export of sea catch?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)

- (a) & (b): The uniform ban on fishing for 61 days is implemented annually by the Department of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  in  the  Exclusive  Economic  Zone  (EEZ)  of  India  beyond territorial waters on both the coasts for 61 days ( 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). The traditional non-motorized units are exempted from this uniform fishing ban imposed in the Indian EEZ beyond territorial waters. 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. Under the Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  implemented  by  the  Department  of Fisheries, Government of India, the livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fishers is provided during the fishing ban/lean period. Livelihood and nutritional  support  for  5,97,709  fisher  families  has  been  provided  annually  during  fishing ban/lean period, at a total investment of Rs.1059.94 crores during 2020-21 to 2023-24.
- (c): As informed by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India, there has been an import of fish and fish products worth 722.01 million USD to India in the last 3 years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24), including import in the state of Tamil Nadu. As informed  by  the  Marine  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (MPEDA)  under  the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, there has been an export of fish and fish products worth 23,235.78 million USD from India in the last 3 years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24), including fish and fish products worth 2,607.99 million USD from the state of Tamil Nadu.

(d):  In  order  to  promote  the  export  of  marine  products,  the  Department  of  Fisheries, Government of India has taken several steps, these inter-alia include support through PMMSY for branding, standards and certification, training and capacity building, creation of post-harvest infrastructure  with  emphasis  on  seamless  cold-chain  and  development  of  modern  fishing harbours  and  fish  landing  centers,  etc.  In  addition,  to  address  the  critical  infrastructure requirements of fisheries and aquaculture sectors, the Department of Fisheries, GoI during 2018-19 has created the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore to provide concessional finance to states/UT and private sector. In this regard the supported activities included development of 27,823 ice plant /cold storages and transportation facilities with an investment of ₹1362 Cr, acquisition of 1398 Deep Sea Fishing Vessels (₹ 1310 Cr) and up-gradation of 1338 fishing vessels (₹ 193.64 Cr). Further, Department of Fisheries has also approved the projects for export oriented fish species such  as  Scampi,  Mud  crab,  Asian  Seabass,  Cobia  etc.  and  supported  the  state-of-the-art aquaculture production technologies like RAS and Biofloc. In addition, Department of Fisheries, GoI has notified Tuna Cluster in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Seaweed Cluster in the Lakshadweep and has issued the Guidelines for promoting diversified species and  Nucleus  Breeding  Centre  (NBCs)/Broodstock  Multiplication  Centre  (BMCs)  under  the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 (amended in 2023). Apart from this, to ensure the sustainability  and  uninterrupted  supply  of  Indian  seafood  material  to  the  US  Market,  the Department is supporting a Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Project at the cost of around ₹ 13.29 Cr. In order to meet the requirements of the export markets for wild-caught shrimp, the Department  of  Fisheries  is  facilitating  the  installation  of  Turtle  Excluder  Devices  (TEDs)  in shrimp trawlers by including TEDs as a separate line item under the PMMSY scheme, and has advised the maritime states/UTs to mandate TED usage in trawl nets through amendments in their  respective  Marine  Fisheries  Regulation  Acts.  To  strengthen  India's  seafood  sector globally,  the  Government  is  facilitating  ease  of  business  by  amending  Coastal  Aquaculture Authority Act (Amendment) 2023. In addition, the Department is conducting Investors meets, Stakeholders consultation and also advising the States/UTs to encourage the farmers to attend the  technical  and  demonstration  workshops/training  programs  related  to  seed  and  feed, technology infusion, ornamental fisheries, hatchery technologies etc. on periodic basis in order to increase in productivity and quality of fishery produce.

*****