Question : Assistance for Fishery

(a) whether the Government has any provision with to provide central assistance to meet the requirement of infrastructure facilities for fishing harbour and fish landing centre for the State Government of Gujarat and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is any provision to provide subsidy on interest of loan in fisheries sector on the lines of agriculture sector and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether marine fish production of Gujarat is very near to the maximum sustainable yield and whether there is any provision with the Government for value addition and increase in yield of fish to double the income of fishermen and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of action taken by the Government for development of fishing harbour at Mangrol phase-III;

(e) the total project cost for development of fishing harbour at Mangrol phase-III;

(f) the details of boats registered at existing Mangrol fishing harbour and the number of boats that can be accommodated after the development of new Mangrol phase-III; and

(g) whether the Government has received any proposal for approval of development of Mangrol Phase-III?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a): Yes, Madam. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) under the Central Plan Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries provides financial assistance to the Coastal State Governments and Union Territories, including Gujarat for development of fisheries infrastructure facilities including fishing harbours and fish landing centres.
(b): No, Madam. At present, there is no such provision in the ongoing schemes of the DADF, MoA&FW to provide subsidy on interest of loan in fisheries sector on the lines of agriculture sector.
(c): The marine fisheries potential in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is estimated at 4.41 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT), whereas the total marine fish production during 2015-16 was 3.59 MMT. The Government of Gujarat has reported that the marine fish production in Gujarat is near to its Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). The DADF under the Central Plan Scheme on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries provides financial assistance for creation of fish quality preservation, post harvest processing and development of value added products. Besides, the scheme also aims for an integrated development and management of the fisheries sector covering inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries, mariculture, cage/pen culture and creation of fisheries infrastructure through central financial assistance towards increasing the fish yield and doubling the fishers and fish farmers’ income.

(d) to (g): The Government of Gujarat has completed the techno-economic studies, formulated and submitted a proposal to DADF for development of fishing harbour at Mangrol phase-III at an estimated cost of Rs.143.07 crore. It is reported that there are 1,753 registered fishing boats in Mangrol and the Mangrol phase-III has been designed to provide necessary facilities to an additional 1,000 fishing vessels comprising of 200 numbers of 10 metre Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats and 800 numbers of 18metre trawlers.
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