Context

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, launched a new exclusive app — the Matsya Setu app — which promises to be of great help to all those wanting to become aqua farmers. This has brought to our focus a deeper analysis of Indian Fisheries’ industry.

Background

• India has a coastline of 7?516 km, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02?million?km², and more than 1 billion?people (nearly 20 percent) live in the coastal areas. ?
• Fisheries and aquaculture?play an important role in its economy and livelihood.
• According to the last estimates for 2017, the sector provided about 13 million jobs (4.1 million in aquaculture, 6.3 millions in inland capture, 1.9 million in marine capture and 0.5 million for others including subsistence)
• Women representing about 32 percent of the people employed in the sector.

Analysis

About the app

• The app was developed by the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar, with the funding support of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad.
• The online course app aims to disseminate the latest freshwater aquaculture technologies to the aqua farmers of the country.
• Matsya Setu app has species-wise/ subject-wise self-learning online course modules, where renowned aquaculture experts explain the basic concepts and practical demonstrations on breeding, seed production and grow-out culture of commercially important fishes like carp, catfish, scampi, murrel, ornamental fish, pearl farming etc

Schemes for Fisheries sector

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
  • A scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India at an estimated investment of Rs. 20050 crores for holistic development of fisheries sector including welfare of fishers. PMMSY is being implemented in all the States and Union Territories for a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
  • PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain from fish production, productivity and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure and marketing. It aims to modernize and strengthen the value chain, enhance traceability and establish a robust fisheries management framework while simultaneously ensuring the socio-economic welfare of fishers and fish farmers.
• Blue Revolution
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries has restructured the scheme by merging all the ongoing schemes under an umbrella of Blue Revolution. 
  • The restructured scheme provides focused development and management of fisheries, covering inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries including deep sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
  • Components covered: (a) National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and its activities, (b) Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, (c) Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post-Harvest Operations, (d) Strengthening of Database & Geographical Information System of the Fisheries Sector, (e) Institutional Arrangement for Fisheries Sector and (f) Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and other need-based Interventions. (g) National Scheme of Welfare of Fishers
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund
  • Creation and modernization of capture & culture fisheries infrastructure
  • Creation of Marine Aquaculture Infrastructure
  • Creation and modernization of Inland Fisheries Infrastructure
  • Reduce post-harvest losses and improve domestic marketing facilities through infrastructure support.
  • To bridge the resource gap and facilitate completion of ongoing infrastructure projects.

Fisheries problems and challenges

• Due to the poverty of fishermen they not able to use latest technology still now days also they follow traditional fishing
• Poor infrastructure and lack of cold storage facility in their boats they not able to give fresh fish so the quality of fish comes down and the rate also down.
• In deep sea fishing private owners are play sufficient role with mechanized boats with latest technology
• Due to the lack of training, the quality of fish feed is getting poor in now a days
• Without latest equipment like GPRS they don’t know about miles or kilometres into the sea and enter hostile sea areas

Remedial Measures

• Regulating usage of plastic bags, avoid dropping of industrial and sewage waste in and around seashore areas.
• To encourage the research and development to support small scale fisheries sector.
• Generate awareness about the new technology, healthy fish feed and provide efficient financial support from government to brought new equipments.
• Joint patrolling and provide GPRS support around the maritime boundaries should reduce the arrest and killing incident of border crossing.
• Provide adequate incentives to encourage the growth of export.

Conclusion

The implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries could facilitate sustainable utilization of fishery resources and hence to overcome constraints in facing the above-mentioned challenges. In the long term, however, there is the need to develop national and regional fishery governance to ensure rational and effective fisheries management in the region.