Lok Sabha Question No. 1271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Deep Sea Fishing
Ministry: AGRICULTURE
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI, FAIZAL P.P. MOHAMMED, KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, P.R. SUNDARAM, K. C. VENUGOPAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1271

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH JULY, 2015

**DEEP SEA FISHING**

1271.   SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

MOHAMMED FAIZAL:

SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE     कृषि मंत्री

be pleased to state:

1. the details of the Government policy on new deep sea fisheries;
2. whether the Government has accepted and implemented report submitted by Dr. Meenakumari Commission;
3. if so, the details and the likely implications thereof;
4. whether the Government has received representations from various States including Kerala against implementation of the said report and if so, the action taken thereon by the Government;
5. whether the Government is considering to extend the time period for trolling ban in the country and given permission to foreign ships for deep sea fishing; and
6. if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to protect the fishermen community?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE

(DR.SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

1. The present policy for deep sea fishing is the ‘Comprehensive Marine Fishing Policy, 2004’ with the following objectives:-

1. To augment marine fish production of the country up to the sustainable level in a responsible manner so as to boost export of sea food from the country and also to increase per capita fish protein intake of the masses.
2. To ensure socio-economic security of the artisanal fishermen whose livelihood solely depends on this vocation.
3. To ensure sustainable development of marine fisheries with due concern for ecological integrity and bio-diversity.

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(b), (c) & (d) The report submitted by the Expert Committee under the Chairpersonship of Dr. B. Meenakumari, which was constituted to review the Comprehensive Marine Fishing Policy, 2014 was received in the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries on 05.8.2014. Considering the representations received from stakeholders and coastal states including Kerala, the recommendations of the said report have not been implemented.

(e) & (f) Government is not considering to extend the uniform ban on fishing from the current period of 61 days. No permission has been given to foreign ships for deep sea fishing in Indian waters.

The steps taken by the Government to promote fisheries development in the country include:-

1. Implementing and providing assistance to the fishermen through the Plan Schemes of the Department like Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations, Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture and National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen.

1. Providing financial assistance to fishermen for aquaculture, mariculture, domestic marketing, training etc through National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

1. To promote overall growth and development in the fisheries sector in the country, the Government has announced a Blue Revolution.

1. Government has exempted traditional non-motorised units from the uniform fishing ban imposed in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters during the current year.

1. Consultation with State Governments and other stakeholders.

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