Lok Sabha Question No. 3564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Climate Impact and Advancing Marine Opportunities in Dakshina Kannada
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3564

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## Climate Impact and Advancing Marine Opportunities in Dakshina Kannada

## 3564.    Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of the impact of climate change on fish catch reductions  in  recent  years  and  if  so,  the  measures  being  implemented  to  support fishermen in Dakshina Kannada, if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  details  of  seaweed  farming  in  India,  including  any  initiatives  to  promote seaweed cultivation in coastal Karnataka, particularly Dakshina Kannada; and

(c) whether the Government has plans to establish a fisheries university in Mangalore to support advanced education, research and training in fisheries and marine sciences and if so, the details of collaborations and funding provisions?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  The  Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) is committed towards sustainable management of fisheries and gives high emphasis towards addressing climate change and its impacts.  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 has been taking several initiates towards holistic development of fisheries sector with major emphasis on strengthening the livelihood of fishers. The major initiatives towards this 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 Karnataka 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  Karnataka  amounting  to  Rs.  1056.34  crore.  The activities approved under PMMSY inter alia included promotion of marine and inland fisheries  activities  for  welfare  of  fishers  &  fish  farmers  in  Karnataka  including Dakshina Kannada namely assistance for acquisition of deep sea fishing vessels, upgradation of existing fishing vessels for export competency, safety kits to fishers, livelihood and nutritional support to fishers during fish ban, communication devices onboard the fishing vessels, installation of artificial reefs along the coast towards conservation.  In  addition,  activities  towards  promotion  of  aquaculture  through establishment of hatcheries, area expansion  for aquaculture,  brackishwater aquaculture, ornamental fish rearing units, seaweed cultivation, bivalve cultivation, cage  culture  in  reservoirs,  Re-circulatory  Aquaculture  System  (RAS)  &  biofloc culture are also approved. The PMMSY is implemented through respective State Governments/Union Territories and the beneficiary identification and selection is done  by  the  State  Governments/Union  Territory  as  per  the  guidelines  of  the scheme. (b)  Under  PMMSY,  interventions  are  aimed  at  optimal  harnessing  of  unrealized potential areas including seaweed cultivation. The Department of Fisheries, GoI, under  PMMSY  has  approved  various  seaweed  projects  consisting  of  seaweed cultivation through rafts, monoline, establishment of seaweed aquapark, seaweed banks and Research & Development projects of various State/Union Territories & research institutes. This also includes 10,000 seaweed  rafts and 21,000 Monoline/tube  nets  approved  for  seaweed  cultivation  in  Karnataka.  The  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has informed that 24,000 ha of suitable area along the Indian coast has been identified for seaweed farming which includes 1579  ha  for  Karnataka  covering  14  locations.  Government  of  Karnataka  has informed that most of the area identified by ICAR  for seaweed cultivation are in Uttara Kannada and no such area are suitable for seaweed cultivation in Dakshina Kannada.

(c) : Government of Karnataka has informed that at present there is no proposal for establishing a separate  fisheries university in Mangalore  before  the State Government.

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