Lok Sabha Question No. 3726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Decline in Sharks Species
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3726

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2015

## DECLINE IN SHARKS SPECIES

## 3726:  SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the share of sharks in the total fish landings has declined by more than 64%  from  the  year  1983  to  2014  and  some  shark  species  have  completely vanished from the Indian coastal waters and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of the total annual quantity of shark landings during the past five years;
- (c)  whether the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has drawn up an action plan called Guidance on National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks in India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the proactive steps taken by the Government to save these natural predators from external extinction?

## ANSWER

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

(a)   & (b) The share of all elasmobranchs which include sharks, skates and rays in the total marine  fish  landings  has  declined  considerably.  However,  there  are  no  reports  to  indicate vanishing  of  any  shark  species  from  the  Indian  coastal  waters.  As  reported  by  the  Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), the year- wise total quantity of shark landings during the past five years is given below:

|   Year |   Sharks landings (in tonnes) |
|--------|-------------------------------|
|   2010 |                         25425 |
|   2011 |                         26746 |
|   2012 |                         22537 |
|   2013 |                         20529 |
|   2014 |                         20078 |

(c) Yes,  Madam.    Central  Marine  Fisheries  Research  Institute  (CMFRI)  has  prepared  an Action  Plan  namely  Guidance  on  National  Plan  of  Action  (NPOA)  for  Conservation  and Management of Sharks in India.  The document presents an overview of the shark fishery in India, current management measures, knowledge gaps to be addressed and suggested action plan for shark fishery management.

(d) The following proactive steps have been taken by the Government for protection of sharks and other elasmobranchs:

i)  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forests  and  Climate  Change  has  included  10  species  of elasmobranchs including sharks under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

ii)  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forests  and  Climate  Change  has  issued  a  policy  circular dated 21 st August, 2013 on prohibition of finning of Shark fins in the sea.

iii) The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce) has prohibited export of Shark fins of all species of shark and also amended the import policy conditions of shark fins from 'free' to 'prohibited' under Foreign Trade Policy vide their Notifications dated 6 th February, 2015.

iv) Uniform fishing ban on all fishing vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond territorial  waters  from  15 th April  to  14 th June  along  the  east  coast  and  1 st June  to  31 st July along  the  west  coast  has  been  imposed  by  the  Government  vide  Department  of  Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Order dated 10 th April, 2015.

v) Declaration of Marine Protected Areas as Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for conservation of marine species including sharks.

vi)  Fishing  practices  in  territorial  waters  are  regulated  by  the  maritime  States  through  their respective  Marine  Fishing  Regulation  Acts  (MFRAs)  by  way  of  gear-specific  mesh  size regulations,  restrictions  on  operation  of  certain  gears  like  ring  seines,  purse  seines  and  pair trawling, introduction of by-catch reduction devices and seasonal ban on fishing.

vii) The Guidelines issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries vide Order dated 12 th November, 2014 for operation of deep sea fishing vessels in the Indian Exclusive  Economic  Zone  (EEZ)  also  provide  for  conservation  of  endangered  marine  fish species declared as per the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

viii)  The  Indian  Coast  Guard  strictly  monitors  and  enforces  implementation  of  the  existing statutory provisions related to conservation of marine fish species including sharks.