Question : Performance of Fisheries Sub-Sector

(a) whether the performance of the fisheries sub-sector has been decelerating since mid-1990s and if so, the facts in this regard along with the reasons therefor and the details of the Government’s plan to improve the performance of the fisheries sub-sector;
(b) whether there is a strongly growing domestic demand for fresh water fish and if so, the facts thereof;
(c) whether there is huge potential for inland fresh water fishery across India including Bundelkhand, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(d) whether the Union Government had set up the National Fisheries Development Board;
(e) if so, whether responsibilities are still not clearly defined between the National Fisheries Development Board and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and if so, the reasons therefor; and
(f) whether this has, in particular, meant an inability to realise the vast potential of inland fresh water fishery and if so, the steps taken by the Union Government to harness the potential of inland fresh water fishery?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)

(a) to (c): The fish production in the country has steadily increased from 3.836 million metric tonne in the year 1990-91 to 13.42 million metric tonne (provisional) in the year 2018-19 and out of this, the inland fisheries sector has contributing 9.70 metric million tonne of fish production. In order to harness the inland fisheries resources in a sustainable manner and to meet the domestic demand, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing since December, 2015 a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries at a total central outlay of Rs.3000 crore for development of fisheries and aquaculture in the country.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has reported that for enhancement of inland fish production and utilization of untapped open water resources especially in Bundelkhand, Policy for development of riverine fisheries, long term lease of community ponds and establishment of cages in reservoirs for long term culture based capture fishery have been taken up.

(d) and (e) : The Government of India in the year during 2006 has established the ‘National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)’. The major objectives of setting up of NFDB are to (i) bring activities relating to fisheries and aquaculture for focused attention and professional management, (ii) enhance contribution of fish and fisheries towards food and nutritional security, (iii) improve production, processing, storage, transport and marketing of the products from capture and culture fisheries, (iv) achieve sustainable management and conservation of natural aquatic resources including the fish stocks, (v) apply modern tools of research and development including genetics and biotechnology for optimizing production and productivity from fisheries, (vi) provide modern infrastructure mechanisms for fisheries, (vii) generate substantial employment and (viii) train and empower women in fisheries sector

(f) : The CSS implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying focuses inland fisheries development to harness its potential. The CSS inter-alia provides financial assistance to the State Governments/UTs to support the fishermen for construction and renovation of ponds, input cost, fish seed rearing units, construction of hatcheries, procurement of fishing craft and gear, establishment of fish feed mills/ plants, installation of cages/pens in reservoir and other open water bodies, Re-circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS), training and skilled development and post harvest infrastructure facilities.
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