Wednesday, 09 Oct, 2024
In India, the fishing industry provides a living for about 28 million people. Image Source: IANS
Around 11,100 fishermen, different fisheries stakeholders, and scholars physically attended the Sagar Parikrama Phase-IX programme from various locations, with about 4600 fisherwomen taking part.
The Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-IX, which began on October 7, 2023, in Thiruvadanai, Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu, covered Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam Districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal District of the Union Territory of Puducherry. On October 8, 2023, it touched Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore Districts and Puducherry and concluded at Chennai on October 9 by covering other coastal regions of Tamil Nadu.
Around 11,100 fishermen, different fisheries stakeholders, and scholars physically attended the Sagar Parikrama Phase-IX programme from various locations, with about 4600 fisherwomen taking part. Approximately 32,300 beneficiaries from across the entire coastal region of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry contributed to and participated in Sagar Parikrama Phase-IX. These beneficiaries included fishermen, fish farmers, fisher women, and other stakeholders. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Parshottam Rupala, inaugurated the infrastructure projects with total project cost of Rs. 92.4 crore approved under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana of such as- i) Construction of Fish landing Centre at Periyakalapet, ii) Construction of Fish landing center at Nallavadu and iii) Construction/Expansion of existing Fishing Harbour at Veerampattinam.
The first phase of Sagar Parikrama was launched in Gujarat on March 5, 2022 from Mandvi and ended on March 6, 2022 at Porbandar. Phase –II programme started on September 22, 2022 from Mangrol to Veraval and ended at Mul Dwaraka on September 23, 2022 from Mul Dwaraka to Madhwad. Phase III Program of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ started on February 19, 2023 from Surat, Gujarat, and terminated on Feb 21, 2023 at Sasson Dock, Mumbai. The phase IV of the Sagar Parikrama began from the district of Uttar Kannada on March 18, 2023 and ended the next day on March 19 in the Dakshin Kannada, covering 10 locations in three coastal districts.
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.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Eight percent of the world's fish production comes from India, which is ranked third in the world for fish production. Total fish production in the country is 162.48 lakh tonnes, of which 121.21 lakh tonnes are produced inland and 41.27 lakh tonnes offshore. The value of fisheries exports in 2021–2022 was Rs 57,586.48 crores. In India, the fishing industry provides a living for about 28 million people. India is one of the top producing and exporting nations of shrimp and ranks second globally in terms of aquaculture production.
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 table below shows the significant achievements made under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
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.
Indian fisheries have recently seen a paradigm change from inland to marine-dominated fisheries, with the latter becoming a major contributor to fish output from 36 percent in the middle of the 1980s to 70 percent in the recent past.
Source: Press Information Bureau
The export of seafood products from India has increased from US$ 5957 million in FY 2020-21 to an all-time high record figure of US$ 7759.58 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.
Despite hurdles brought on by the pandemic in the worldwide markets, seafood exports climbed from Rs 30,213 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 63,969.14 crore in FY 2022–23, a rise of 111.73 percent. Today, 129 nations import seafood from India, with the United States being the biggest buyer.
To reach the goal of 22 MMT fish output by 2024–2025, the federal government must focus on funding allocation and timely transfer of funds to the states. The programme aims to revolutionise the fishing industry in the nation by creating opportunities for direct and indirect employment and by concentrating on the sustainable modernization of fishing infrastructure, but at the same time, the central government must ensure prompt funding distribution to the states and the creation of job opportunities.
Over 2.8 million fisherman rely on the country's 8,118 km of coastline, which is made up of 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories. Eight percent of the world's fish production comes from India, which is ranked third in the world for fish production. Total fish production in the country is 162.48 lakh tonnes, of which 121.21 lakh tonnes are produced inland and 41.27 lakh tonnes offshore. The value of fisheries exports in 2021–2022 was Rs 57,586.48 crores.
If effectively executed by the joint efforts of the central government and state governments, Sagar Parikrama and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana are well-designed programmes that will undoubtedly improve the fishing industry and transform the nation's blue economy.
