Question : DISEASE IN FISH

(a) whether adequate infrastructure is available for disease diagnosis and treatment for fish diseases;

(b) if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether there is a strong need for capital investment as well as support for the State Governments in capacity building and managing the disease diagnostic laboratories;

(d) if so, the response of the Union Government thereto;

(e) whether there is also a need for creating a disease surveillance and communication agency/mechanism at National level along with its wings at suitable regional locations to build awareness and send alerts to the stakeholders;

(f) if so, the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard;

(g) whether the Union Government proposes to give adequate regulatory powers to ensure the disease control; and

(h) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) The Fisheries Research Institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and some of the Fisheries Colleges under State Agricultural Universities have adequate infrastructure for disease diagnosis and treatment. However, the State Fisheries Departments need to develop infrastructure as well as expertise for diagnosis of fish diseases and treatment. Setting up a Directorate of Aquatic Animal Health & Quarantine (DAAHQ) under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries has also been initiated, initially with two Aquatic Animal Quarantine Units and Disease Diagnostic Laboratories one each for east coast in Chennai and west coast near Mumbai with headquarter unit in New Delhi.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) Yes, Madam. There is a need for capital investment in capacity building and managing the disease diagnostic laboratories under the State Fisheries Departments.

(d) Currently, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is implementing a scheme of financial assistance for setting up of Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Management Laboratory (AAHEML). The State Fisheries Departments, Fisheries Corporations, Agencies/Institutions under Central/ State Governments and KVKs having Fisheries Extension Service Units with required technical manpower and adequate space for establishing such facility are provided one time grant to meet the cost for establishing AAHEML including the cost of specified consumables for the first year at a unit cost of Rs. 56.00 lakh in coastal States and Rs. 40.00 lakhs in other States.

(e)&(f) Yes, Madam. A National Surveillance Programme on Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) has been launched in the country initially covering 14 States of aquaculture and fisheries importance in the first phase. The programme is implemented through 24 National/State Fisheries Research Institutes.

The main objective of the programme is to improve collection of information on distribution and occurrence of aquatic animal diseases, to rapidly detect new and exotic infectious diseases in aquatic animals, to generate a national infor- mation system on aquatic animal diseases and also to improve compliance of reporting obligation to OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). In addition, the programme provides opportunity for creating awareness amongst stake- holders about the importance of aquatic animal disease diagnosis and surveillance.

(g)&(h) Yes, Madam. The Government has issued Notifications to include aquatic animals and their diseases within the scope of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009. Accordingly, State Governments have the responsibility to monitor, control and report occurrence of these diseases.