Lok Sabha Question No. 1355 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Infrastructural Support for Fisheries
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1355 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## Infrastructural Support for Fisheries

## 1355.    Shri Benny Behanan:

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

- (a) whether there is volatile growth in per capita income of traditional fishermen in Kerala, if so, the details of the measures implemented to ensure stable income growth for fishermen in the State;
- (b) the details and decline in Kerala's fish production from 7.27 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 to 6.8 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 and initiatives to increase fish production in the State;
- (c)  the  details  of measures taken to address climate change and oceanic plastic waste, which impact the fisheries sector in Kerala;
- (d) the details of plans to overcome infrastructural bottlenecks in Kerala's fisheries sector to support both traditional and modern fishing practices; and
- (e) the steps taken to reduce the vulnerability of fishermen in Kerala to emerging challenges such as climate change and environmental pollution?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  and (b) : The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) has been taking several initiates towards holistic development of fisheries sector with major emphasis on strengthening the livelihood of fishers. The major initiatives include Blue Revolution Scheme implemented during 2015-16 to 2019-20, provision of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fisheries and creation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) enabling concessional financing in fisheries.

In  2020,  Government  of  India  approved  a  flagship  scheme  -Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) at a total investment of Rs. 20050 crore for holistic development of fisheries sector for implementation in all the States and Union Territories of India including Kerala for a period of 5(five) years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. During last four years (2020-21 to 2023-24) and current financial year (2024-25) under PMMSY, the DoF, GoI has accorded  approval  to  the  fisheries  developmental  proposals  of  Government  of  Kerala amounting to Rs.1181.10 crore. The approved activities inter alia included production and productivity enhancing activities like establishment of brood banks, hatcheries, grow out ponds, brackishwater aquaculture, ornamental fish rearing units,  upgradation of existing fishing vessels, deep-sea fishing vessels, high tech aquaculture activities like cage culture, Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS), Biofloc culture units, pen-culture units, bivalve cultivation, integrated development of reservoirs, etc.

Government of Kerala has informed that per capita income of fishermen in Kerala has been increasing over the years and showing increasing trend from 2020-21 to 2022-23. The fish production of Kerala during 2015-16 was 7.27 lakh tonnes and reached to 6.8 lakh tonnes during 2019-20. Due to strategic initiatives of the Union and State Governments the fish production in Kerala has increased to 9.21 lakh tonnes during 2022-23. These initiatives taken  have  also  ensured  stable  income  growth  to  fishermen  in  the  State  and  overall development of the sector.

(c) : The DoF, GoI is committed towards sustainable management of fisheries and gives high  emphasis  towards  addressing  climate  change  &  environmental  impacts  of  plastic litters.  The fisheries research institutes under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research  (ICAR),  Government  of  India  have  been  conducting  regular  research  for understanding the impacts of climate change in order to develop climate resilient strategies for sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture. The DoF, GoI is one of the Lead Partnering Country in the International Maritime Organization (IMO)-Food and Agriculture organization (FAO)  GloLitter  Partnership  (GLP)  Project  with  the  aim  of  prevention  and  reduction  of Marine Plastic Litter and to reverse the negative environmental impacts of plastic. In this regard, a National Action Plan has been published for management and prevention of seabased marine plastic litter and being  implemented in all coastal States/Union Territories including Kerala.  In addition, Government of Kerala has informed that they have initiated an ambitious sanitation campaign called Suchitwa Sagaram (clean sea) in 2017 with sole aim to reduce plastic waste buildup in sea by prohibiting plastic waste dumping into the sea and removing all forms of plastic materials in the sea or ones which get entangled in the nets while fishing.

(d) : DoF, GoI has been keen to strengthen the fisheries infrastructure facilities in Kerala. Under the flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) the DoF, GoI  has  approved  various  activities  enabling  strengthening  of  fisheries  infrastructure facilities in Kerala. The approved activities include support towards expansion upgradation and modernization of fishing harbors at Kerala,  construction of ice plants/cold storages, procurement of efficient fish transportation units, establishment of state of art whole sale fish markets, establishment of retail markers, fish kiosk, establishment of referral & disease diagnostic quality testing labs for precise disease diagnostics, development of integrated modern coastal fishing villages etc.

(e):  Under the various fisheries developmental activities initiated by the DoF, GoI, welfare of  fishers  has  been  the  prime  objective.  In  this  regard,  support  is  provided  towards communication  devices,  transponders  are  being  installed  for  safety  of  fishers  at  sea, artificial  reefs  &  ranching  programmes  are  approved  for  sustainable  development  and management of fisheries along the coast, for other need based services, extension services in  form  of Matsya  Seva  Kendras and Sagar  Mitras are  also  approved.  Time  to  time advisories  are  provided  on  climate  and  other  serious  vulnerabilities  ensuring  safety  of fishermen. Additionally, livelihood support to fishers during fish ban period, boats and nets to  traditional  fishermen,  skill  development  and  capacity  building  programmes  are  also provided.

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