Question : 61-Day Fishing Ban

(a) whether the Government has received any demands to increase the livelihood support during the annual 61-day fishing ban across the East Coast;
(b) if so, the response of the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government is aware that Rs. 4,500 as compensation per family is meagre and not competitive with market standards;
(d) if so, the additional steps that are being taken to support fishermen by increasing the Central compensation to around Rs. 15,000; and
(e) whether the Government has considered waiving payment of Rs. 1,500 that the beneficiary has to make to become eligible for compensation considering the hardships of the pandemic and the vulnerable position of fishermen and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is placed on the Table of the House.


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Statement referred to in reply to the LokSabha Starred Question No. 122regarding “61-DAY FISHING BAN”put in by Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Singari and Shri MaguntaSreenivasulu Reddy,Hon’bleMembers of Parliament, for answer on 26-07-2022
(a) to (e): The uniform fishing ban of 61 days in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is implemented based on the scientific advise for conservation and effective management of fishery resources, which is essential to allow regeneration of fish stocks, ensure sustainability and livelihood protection of small-scale and traditional fishermen. To address the livelihood issues during such fishing ban, the Pradhan MantriMatsyaSampadaYojana (PMMSY) implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India provides livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fisher’s families during the fishing ban/lean period. Under this scheme, the Governmental financial assistance of Rs. 3,000/- per annum is provided to each enrolled beneficiary and the enrolled beneficiary’s contribution is Rs. 1,500/- annually. Such accumulated amount of Rs. 4,500/- is disbursed to each enrolled beneficiary by the respective State/ Union Territory (UT). This is a financial assistance provided to fishermen during fishing ban/lean period and not a compensation.The PMMSY is implemented as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Package with an estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crores in all States/UTsover a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.The scheme has several activities to provide additional or alternative livelihood opportunities to supplement the incomes of marine fishermen. These activitiesinter aliainclude seaweed cultivation, marine cage cultivation, fish marketing outlets like fish kiosks, mobile vending outlets, support to take up brackish water aquaculture, provision of deep sea fishing vessels to traditional fishermen to diversify their fishing activities, accidental insurance, training and capacity building, financial support during annual fish ban/lean period etc. In addition, the facility of Kisan Credit card (KCC) has also been extended to fishermen and fish-farmers. The above initiatives show that in addition to financial support during fishing ban period, the endeavour of the Government of India is to uplift the socio-economic status of marine fishermen for their all-round development through diverse activities/initiatives. Further, beneficiary contribution of Rs. 1500/- has been insisted upon to promote thrift among fishermen.

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