Friday, 17 May, 2024
By: Yash Gupte
The nation's 8,118 km of coastline, which spans 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories, supports the livelihoods of 2.8 million fishermen. Image Source: IANS
The fishing sector has plans planned to increase output and productivity, improve quality, boost domestic fish consumption and exports, increase commerce, and reduce waste, all of which will give unemployed youngsters the chance to start their own businesses.
Considering India’s vast coastline and maritime resources, the Government of India has been takings several steps to make significant improvements in the fisheries sector and improve the livelihood of fish farmers across the country. One such step was the organizing the National Fish Farmers Day Meet 2023 at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. The dedication of fish farmers, startups, and creativity in embracing modern techniques and enhancing fish yield were recognised during the National Fish Farmers Day Meet 2023 which was celebrated by the department of fisheries, ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying and other stakeholders. The programme started from July 10, 2023 and ended on July 11, 2023 at the historic city of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. The aim behind celebrating the meet was to create an ecosystem to collectively think and discuss the ways to sustainably manage India’s fish resources.
The fishing sector has plans planned to increase output and productivity, improve quality, boost domestic fish consumption and exports, increase commerce, and reduce waste, all of which will give unemployed youngsters the chance to start their own businesses. With initiatives like Blue Revolution and PMMSY, which are positioned to transform the fisheries sector and enhance millions of lives by putting a focus on sustainable growth and development, this ambitious programme aimed to offer a venue for discussion for the individuals in the fishing industry.
One of the important steps taken by the government in the development of fisheries sector is the launch of ‘Sagar Parikrama.’ The primary goals of "Sagar Parikrama" are (i) to facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities, and stakeholders in order to disseminate information about the various fisheries-related schemes and programmes being implemented by the Government; (ii) to show solidarity with all fishermen, fish farmers, and concerned stakeholders in accordance with the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat; and (iii) to promote responsible fisheries with a focus on sustainable balance between the utilisation of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and (iv) protection of marine ecosystems.
The first phase of Sagar Parikrama was launched in Gujarat on March 5, 2022 from Mandvi and ended on March 6, 2022 at Porbandar. The latest and the VII phase of the Sagar Parikrama was launched on June 8, 2023 from Madakkara, Kerala.
Source: Press Information Bureau
India, which is recognised as the second-largest fish producer in the world, produces 8 percent of the global share of fish production. The nation produces 162.48 lakh tons of fish altogether, of which 121.21 lakh tons come from inland sources and 41.27 lakh tons come from marine sources. In 2021–2022, the value of fisheries exports was Rs 57,586.48 crores. Fisheries sector supports livelihood of over 28 million people in India. Fish productivity in the country increased from 2.3 tons per hectare to 3.3 tons per hectare.
Recently, experts pointed out that the two year break in the fishing activity due to the pandemic has significantly contributed in healthy fish stock. According to the first comprehensive marine fish stock assessment for India, 91.1 percent of 135 fish stocks evaluated in 2022 were found to be ‘healthy.’
Around 86.7 percent of the 135 stocks tested were determined to be sustainable, which means they had a sufficient population to provide their maximum sustainable yields. A few different species of dolphin fish, eels, lizardfish, snappers, and pomfret were among the stocks that were considered sustainable. Regionally, the southeast coast had the highest percentage of healthy stocks (97.4 percent) in 2022, followed by the southwest (92.7 percent), the northeast (87.5 percent), and the northwest was at the lowest at 83.8 percent.
PMMSY has been approved at the total estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crores comprising of central share of Rs.9,407 crores, state share of Rs.4,880 crores and beneficiaries contribution of Rs.5,763 crores. The PM Matsya Sampada Yojana includes key activities such as fishing vessel insurance, support for new/upgrade of fishing vessels, aquaculture in saline/alkaline areas, Sagar Mitras, nucleus breeding centres, fisheries and aquaculture start-ups, incubators, and integrated aqua parks.
Through a capacity building training plan funded by the PMMSY, organisations like the Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET) expanded its purpose in FY20 to include training fishermen from coastal states and union territories. For the promotion of low-density intensive aquaculture technologies in the area through integrated modules for research, demonstration, and skill development, such as the circulating aquaculture system (RAS) and Biofloc aquaculture, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University became the first Indian university to receive fishery project funds under the PMMSY in March 2021.
The graphic below shows the significant achievements made under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
Source: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Department of Fisheries
The central government has been maximizing its effort to boost the blue economy and provide new opportunities to the fishermen along the coast. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a scheme launched by the central government for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country as a part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Recently, Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying in a written reply in Rajya Sabha said that the PMMSY provides insurance coverage to fishers which includes fish workers, fish farmers and any other categories of persons directly involved in fishing and fisheries related allied activities. With a budget of Rs 20,050 crores for a period of five years, PMMSY aims to achieve fish production of 22 million metric tons (MMT) from the current 13.76 MMT by 2024-25 and to create additional employment opportunities for about 55 lakh people.
The Department of Fisheries would get a sum totaling Rs 2248.77 crore, according to an announcement made by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman during the presentation of the budget for FY 2023–2024. It marks an overall increase of 38.45 percent over the budget of FY 2022-23 from the last one and is one of the highest ever annual budgetary support for the Department. She also unveiled a brand-new sub-program called Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), a central sector sub-program under PMMSY with a targeted investment of Rs 6,000 crore and the goal of boosting further the earnings and incomes of fishers, fish vendors, and micro & small businesses active in the fisheries sector.
Source: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Department of Fisheries
Andhra Pradesh has the highest total project cost under the PMMSY at Rs 77,436 lakhs followed by Uttar Pradesh at Rs 59,413 lakhs. Andhra Pradesh has also received the highest funds by the central government under the PMMSY. The state has received a sum of Rs 18,659 lakhs from 2020-2022, followed by Karnataka (Rs 16,162 lakhs). Sikkim and Punjab have received lowest funds under the scheme. The total project cost in Punjab is Rs 5,984 lakhs and the share of central government is Rs 2,064 lakhs. Out of the central government’s share of Rs 2,064 lakhs, Punjab has received only Rs 567 lakhs in last two years. Other states also narrate a similar tale in terms of allocation of funds.
The export of seafood products from India has increased from $5,957 million in FY 2020-21 to an all-time high record figure of $7,759.58 million in FY 2021-22. This has made India the 4th largest exporter of fish and fisheries products, 3rd largest fish producer and 2nd largest aquaculture producer.
Source: Press Information Bureau
The government has set the target to double its fishery export earnings to Rs. 100,000 crore (US$ 13.68 billion) by FY25, from Rs. 46,589 crore (US$ 6.37 billion) in FY19.
The central government must concentrate on the allocation of funds and the timely release of funds to the states in order to achieve the target of 22 MMT fish production by 2024-25. The scheme aims to bring a revolution in the fishing sector in the country by providing direct and indirect employment opportunities and by focusing on the sustainable modernisation of fishing infrastructure but at the same time, central government must ensure timely allocation of funds to the states and generation of employment opportunities.
The nation's 8,118 km of coastline, which spans 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories, supports the livelihoods of 2.8 million fishermen. India, which is recognised as the third-largest fish producer in the world, produces 8 percent of the global share of fish production. The nation produces 162.48 lakh tons of fish altogether, of which 121.21 lakh tons come from inland sources and 41.27 lakh tons come from marine sources. In 2021–2022, the value of fisheries exports was Rs 57,586.48 crores.
One of the challenges to India’s fisheries sector is Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. IUU fishing can be found in all types and dimensions of fisheries, in all sizes, and in both international waters and territorial waters. It pertains to all facets and phases of fish capture and use, and it may sometimes be associated with organized crime.
Apart from PMMSY and Sagar Parikrama, government has also launched some other schemes like the Blue revolution- Neel/Nili Kranti Mission and National Fisheries Policy 2020 with similar aims and objectives.
