Lok Sabha Question No. 4924 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Fisheries Practices in the Bay of Bengal
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait, Smt. Anita Subhadarshini

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4924 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  APRIL, 2025

## Fisheries Practices in the Bay of Bengal

## 4924.  Smt. Anita Subhadarshini: Shri Dileshwar Kamait:

Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of initiatives taken by the Government to ensure sustainable fisheries practices in the Bay of Bengal region;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  technological  advancements  play  a  role  in  improving  fisheries management and aquaculture;
- (c) whether any collaborative projects are proposed to be implemented in order to improve livestock health and breeding practices in member countries; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India (GoI) has taken several initiatives to ensure sustainable fisheries practices in India's EEZ including in the Bay of Bengal region.  This includes the implementation of a uniform fishing ban for a period of 61 days, from 15th April to 14th June on the East Coast and from 1st June to 31st July on the West Coast in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to protect the breeding stock. Similar fishing bans are implemented within the territorial  waters  by  Coastal States/Union  Territories including  in  the Bay of Bengal region. During  the  fishing  ban  period,  financial  assistance  is  provided  by  the  Government  towards livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward, active traditional fishers.

The  DoF,  GoI  has  notified  the  'National  Policy  on  Marine  Fisheries  (NPMF),  2017'  towards responsible and sustainable fishing across the country including the Bay of Bengal region.   The DoF, GoI has also issued orders to prohibit destructive fishing practices like bull or pair trawling and the use of artificial lights/LED lights for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and similar prohibitions are also imposed within territorial waters by the coastal States/UTs. Further, necessary  provisions  are  made  by  the  State  Government  in  their  respective  Marine  Fishing Regulation Acts Rules (Amendments) for the installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) for the protection of sea turtles.  Besides, the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented by the Department inter alia envisages support towards the installation of artificial reefs along the coast, sea ranching, and mariculture including seaweed cultivation, all of which add to the sustainability. In addition, India as a member of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP)-IGO  has  been  actively  taking  various  initiatives  in  cooperation  with  other  member countries for sustainable fisheries practices like the adoption of the National Plan of Action for Sharks, Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) and Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project.

(b):    The  NPMF,  2017  inter  alia  emphasizes  that  Information  Technology  (IT)  and  Space Technology (ST) will be put to optimum use for harnessing the benefits in support of the fisher community and also recommends the use of space technologies for real-time Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories; and weather forecasts for the benefit of fishers. The Indian National Centre for  Ocean  Information  Services  (INCOIS),  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES),  Hyderabad  has reported that Oceansat Satellite data from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) are used to prepare the Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories indicating the potential fishing areas and provided to the fishermen in all States/UTs.  Besides, the PMMSY inter alia envisages support towards  the  installation  of  transponders  in  fishing  vessels,  providing  safety  kits  to  traditional fishermen  and  motorized  fishing  vessels,  support  for  Potential  Fishing  Zone  (PFZ)  devices  & network  including  the  cost  of  installation,  construction  of  deep  sea  fishing  vessels  aiming  at exploring untapped resources and upgradation of fishing vessels for export competency. Under the  PMMSY  emphasis  is  also  given  to  technology-driven  more  crop-per-drop  initiatives  in aquaculture like fish culture through Re-Circulatory Aquaculture Systems  (RAS), biofloc aquaculture  systems,  cage  culture  in  reservoirs,  open  sea  cage  culture,  seaweed  cultivation, bivalve cultivation including pearl farming and ornamental fisheries.

(c) and (d):  Currently there are no such projects proposed to be implemented to improve livestock health and breeding practices in member countries. However, as per the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, germplasm from indigenous breeds, Murrah buffalo and Sahiwal cattle has been shared with member countries mainly Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the form of semen doses, embryos, and live animals.

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