Lok Sabha Question No. 4139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Blue Economy
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri T R Baalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4139 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  March 2025

## Blue Economy

## 4139.Shri T R Baalu:

Will the MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken note of the imminent threat to the Blue Economy in the wake  of  endangerment  caused  by  climate  change  to  the  fishermen's  and  other  coastal communities' livelihood, if so, the mitigation response of the Government;
- (b) whether Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has offered necessary any assistance in this regard; and
- (c) if so, whether the Government has accepted it and if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying, Government of India has taken note of the imminent threat to the Blue Economy posed by climate change,  which  may  affect  the  livelihoods  of  fishermen  and  other  coastal  communities.  In  this regard,  the  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  under  the Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in consultation with the coastal State Governments, has identified 100 coastal fishermen villages situated close to the coastline as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages  (CRCFV).  The  activities  promoted  in  the  identified  coastal  fishermen  villages  under PMMSY are need-based facilities,  including  development  of  common  facilities  like  fish  drying yards,  fish  processing  centers,  fish  markets,  fishing  jetties,  ice  plants,  cold  storages,  and emergency rescue facilities. The Government is also promoting the climate-resilient livelihoods like aquaculture,  especially  the  mariculture  of  seaweed,  food  and  ornamental  fishes,  bivalves  etc. through the schemes of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. Further, for livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fisher's families during fish ban/lean period and insurance cover to fishers are also provided under the PMMSY scheme. Additionally, the ICAR-Fisheries Research Institutes have been contributing to promote inland and marine aquaculture activities through ongoing research, technology development, and capacitybuilding programs with funding support of the Government of India.
- (b) and (c) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India has not received any assistance from the  Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in this regard. However, to combat marine plastic  pollution,  particularly  from  fishing  and  maritime  sectors,  the  Department  of  Fisheries, Government of India has been actively engaged in the global and regional efforts like Glolitter Partnership Project and Reglitter Project both of which are jointly implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Food, and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO). These  projects  focus  on  preventing  and  reducing  Marine  Plastic  Litter  (MPL)  from  sea-based sources, with an emphasis on addressing abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and wastes from ships. The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project funded by the Global  Environment  Facility  (GEF)  and  NORAD  with  co-financing  from  member  countries  and being  implemented  by  the  FAO  in  partnership  with  regional  organizations  viz.  Bay  of  Bengal Programme  Inter-Governmental  Organization  (BOBP-IGO)  in  its  member  countries,  including India.  The  BOBLME  Project  is  promoting  the  concept  of  Ecosystem  Approach  to  Fisheries Management  (EAFM)  that  aims  to  integrate  ecological  health,  social  equity,  and  economic sustainability, ensuring that fisheries management addresses broader ecosystem and community needs.  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Government  of  India  hosted  the  FAO  Workshop  on Mainstreaming  Climate  Change  into  International  Fisheries  Governance  and  Strengthen  of Fisheries Management Measures in the Indo-Pacific Region, organized by BOBP-IGO and NFDB during 16 th  -19 th   October, 2023. Over 15 Regional Fisheries Bodies from the region participated in the event and identified potential areas for collaboration and the capacity development needs in mainstreaming climate change in fisheries management.

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