Question : National Fisheries Policy 2020

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps for formulating and finalizing the draft National Fisheries Policy 2020 (NFP), if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received any comments on draft NFP 2020 and if so, State-wise details of the same;
(c) whether the Government will consider organizing regional and State/UT-level consultations with stakeholders with the involvement of respective State Governments, if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether it is true that the Draft National Fisheries Policy 2020 is neither in favour of the fishing communities nor for protecting the oceans and the coast;
(e) if so, the steps to be taken by the Government keeping in view that the fisheries sector has been one of the major contributors of foreign exchange earnings as India is one of the leading seafood exporting nations in the world; and
(f) the funds proposed to be spent for the development of marine fisheries, aquaculture and marine farming?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING:

(SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)

(a) The Draft ''National Fisheries Policy, 2020'' (NFP) has been formulated and placed in public domain inviting suggestions from stakeholders. The Draft NFP, 2020 provides vision and strategies of the Government towards overall and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country for next ten years.
(b) The list of the stakeholders including State Governments / Union Territories (UTs) who have communicated their comments on the Draft NFP, 2020 are provided in the Annexure.


(c) The Draft NFP, 2020 was translated in 11 vernacular languages and uploaded on the website of Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India and also communicated to the State Governments/UT Administrations inviting their comments. The State Governments/UT Administrations were also requested to circulate the Draft NFP, 2020 with the stakeholders including fishermen associations in order to obtain their inputs/comments on the Draft NFP, 2020 and communicate the same to the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
(d) to (f) The draft of “National Fisheries Policy” provides guiding principles, strategies and roadmap towards holistic development of fisheries sector in the country. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)”- A Scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India” with highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 in all the States and UTs for the overall development of marine fisheries, aquaculture and marine farming in the country.
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