ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING:
(SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)
(a) The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has taken several steps to enhance effective control and management of resources in fishing sector in India. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries with major fisheries components like (i) Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post-Harvest Operations, and (ii) National scheme of Welfare of Fishermen, besides other components are under implementation in the States / Union Territories (UTs) with the financial assistance from this Department for development of overall fisheries sector in India.
Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts (MFRA) enacted by the respective States and UTs has the provisions for management and regulation of marine fisheries, which inter alia contains provision for regulation, control and conservation of marine fishery wealth in sustainable manner, and maintain fishing in orderly manner.
Awareness program on Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishery (CCRF) for responsible fishing and for conservation and management, is being organized among the stakeholders to create awareness.
The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has been imposing an uniform ban on fishing for 61 days by fishing vessels in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on both the coasts including Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.
Fisheries being the State subject, Department of Fisheries of the respective State Government and Union Territories (UTs) also control and management of resources in fishing sector. Some the management measures observe by tem are (i) fishing ban in reservoirs for sustainable yield and improving productivity, (ii) periodic stocking of fish seed fingerlings in potential reservoir to improve production and productivity, and (iii) mesh size regulation in capture fishing to harvest minimum legal size (iv) ban on using artificial lights for fishing (v) ban on Bull Trawling and other destructive fishing methods (vi) ban on harvesting of endangered species, (vii) introduction of Minimum Legal Size (MLS) for commercially important marine fish species etc.
(b) Specific sectoral studies have not been undertaken with the focus on fisheries policy in the country with special emphasis on the fishing sector in Kerala. However, a National Policy of Marine Fisheries (NPMF), 2017 was notified on 28th April, 2017 and this Policy has been circulated to all Maritime States / UTs including Kerala for implementation. Fisheries Research Institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are regularly monitoring the marine fishery resources and supporting management framework for sustainable marine fisheries. Periodical revalidation studies of fish stock are being carried out in order to understand the stock position for sustainable management of resources.
(c) This Department had in 20th November, 2012 approved the proposal of Government of Kerala for construction of a new fishing harbour at Vellayil in Kozhikode District at a total cost of 3930.20 lakh with the central share of 2947.65 lakh. Proposals for modernization of the fishing harbors have to be submitted by the respective State Governments for availing assistance of this Department.
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