Lok Sabha Question No. 2735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Deep Sea Fishing
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2735 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH   MAY, 2016

## DEEP SEA FISHING

## 2735.  SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और कृ िक कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing the recommendations of the Dr. Meena Kumari Committee on deep-sea fishing despite the opposition of the local fishing communities in the  country  who  apprehend  that  the  recommendations  of  the  Committee  on  deep-sea fishing would adversely affect their livelihood;
- (b) whether the Government has consulted with the local fishing communities on the question of implementation of the recommendations of Dr. Meena Kumari Committee;
- (c) whether the apprehension of local fishing community has any factual basis that fish output in water upto a depth of 200 Mts.  in the country's territorial waters has recently plateaued considerably  and  if  deep-sea  fishing  by  deep  sea  vessels  are  allowed  in  the  Exclusive Economic Zone even the poor yield would completely vanish, if so the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has invited applications for deep-sea fishing from 250 deep-sea vessels for issue of 270 Letters of Permit, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to address the apprehensions and concerns of the local fishing communities in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (DR.SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) &  (b)  The  report  submitted  by  the  Expert  Committee  under  the  chairpersonship  of  Dr.  B. Meenakumari was received on 05.8.2014. The said report was shared in the public domain on 20.8.2014 for inviting comments from all stakeholders including fishermen communities. Considering  the  representations  received  from  a  majority  of  stakeholders,  fishermen communities and associations the recommendations of the  said  Committee have not been considered for implementation.
- (c)   The marine fish production in the country during the last four years has been reported as 33.20 lakh tonnes in 2012-13; 34.39 lakh tonnes in 2013-14; 36.55 lakh tonnes (Provisional) in 2014-15 and 35.83 lakh tonnes (Provisional) in 2015-16 respectively, against the potential yield of 44.12 lakh tonnes estimated for the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The variations  in  fish  production  may  be  attributed  to  several  reasons  such  as  high  fishing pressure,  changes  in  fishing  gear  dimensions,  over  capacity,  pollution,  environmental factors,  climate  change  etc.  Deep-sea  fishing  vessels  (DSFVs)  in  the  Exclusive  Economic Zone are only allowed to carry out resource-specific fishing beyond 12 nautical miles from the territorial limits. Apprehensions of local fishing community, if any, regarding poor fish yield in territorial waters due to operation of these DSFVs are largely unsubstantiated, as the areas of operation as well as targeted resources are different in case of DSFVs and the local traditional fishing communities.

(d) No, Madam.

- (e)    A  committee  has  been  constituted  on  28 th July,  2015  under  the  chairmanship  of  Dr.  S. Ayyappan, former Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with terms of reference to inter alia ascertain the present status of exploitation of marine fishery resources by various sectors, namely, traditional sector, mechanized boats sector and deepsea fishing vessels; and to consult all stakeholders for preparing a draft National Policy on Marine Fisheries for over-all development of marine fisheries in India.

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