Question : Setting up of Research Institute for Fisheries

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING ??????????, ??????? ?? ????? ?????? be pleased to state:
(a) Whether the Government has any active or proposed programs to make aware the farmers across the nations to also take fisheries as an alternative profession with special emphasis to the States of Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has set up any specialised institute for research on fisheries and developing new varieties, if so, the details thereof and if not, the resons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has signed any MoU with foreign nations or groups of nations for technology transfer on latest developments in fisheries, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether any program is ongoing between India and any such nation for increasing production and productivity in the fisheries sector, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) and (b): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing various schemes/programmes for development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country including in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. The schemes/programmes implemented include, (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries implemented for a period of 5 years from 2015-16 to 2019-20 for development of fisheries in the country, (ii) Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs.7,522.48 crore for providing concessional finance for creation and strengthening of fisheries infrastructure facilities including in the field of inland fisheries and aquaculture, (iii) Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish farmers to help them to meet their working capital needs for fisheries and aquaculture and (iv) implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” with highest ever estimated investment of Rs. 20050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21as a part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package.

(c): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a number of Fisheries Research Institutes and their Regional /Research Centres in different States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), a deemed to be University has its headquarters at Mumbai in Maharashtra and its Research Centres are located at different locations including Kolkata in West Bengal and Powarkheda in Madhya Pradesh. The Institute carries out human resource development through post-graduate and doctorate programmes besides several vocational trainings. CIFE is involved in research on culture of fish/shellfish in inland saline areas and is developing genetically improved magur. Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) headquartered at Bhubaneswar, Odisha has one of its Research Centre at Rahara, West Bengal. CIFA is mandated for carrying out basic and strategic research on sustainable freshwater culture systems for finfish and shellfish. CIFA has significantly contributed to the growth of the sector by developing and standardizing new technologies for increasing production and productivity in freshwater aquaculture. The Institute has developed genetically improved strains of Rohu, Catla and Scampi. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) with its headquarters at Barrackpore, West Bengal has one of its Research Centre at Kolkata, West Bengal. The Institute works on basic and strategic research in inland open water fisheries for sustainable management. The Institute has developed protocols for scientific fisheries management in reservoirs and wet lands leading to considerable improvement in fish production. The Institute has developed cage and pen culture technologies for large inland water bodies. Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) with its headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu has one of its Research Centre located at Kakdwip in West Bengal. CIBA works on basic, strategic and applied research for brackishwater culture systems. The institute has developed technologies for important aspects in Brackishwater aqauculture, such as seed production and farming of diversified fish and shell fish species, indigenous feeds, aquatic animal health solutions, climate-smart aquaculture and stock improvement strategies. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) headquartered in Kochi, Kerala has one of its Research Centre at Digha, West Bengal. The various projects undertaken by the Institute deals with assessment and sustainable fish stocks of finfish and shellfish from the Indian EEZ, open sea cage farming and coastal mariculture in the form of viable farm and hatchery technologies for finfish, shrimp, edible oyster, mussel, clam, seaweeds and marine pearls.
Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, (CIFT) with its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala has one of its Research Centre located at Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Institute is the only national center in the country where research in all disciplines relating to fishing and fish processing is undertaken. The Institute has developed fuel-efficient deep-sea fishing vessels and fishing gears and various fish processing technologies, value added products and quality standards for export of fish and fishery products.
(d) and (e): MoUs on bilateral cooperation in the field of Fisheries have been signed with other countries including Norway, Bangladesh, Iceland, Indonesia, Morocco and Vietnam. However, there is no ongoing/active collaborative programme with these countries.

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