The Department of Fisheries in Government of Indiahas been implementing policies and schemes for sustainable development of fisheries sector. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries was implemented during 2015-16 to 2019-20 with a vision of creating an enabling environment for integrated development of the full potential offisheries of the country, alongwith substantial improvement in the income status offishers and fish farmers keeping in view the sustainability, bio-security and environmentalconcerns.Subsequently, Government of India in May, 2020 approved a flagship scheme “Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampada Yojana” (PMMSY) a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in the country. PMMSY is being implemented for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all States and Union Territories.
Besides, the Government of India has notified the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 that provides the guidance to explore and sustainably use oceanic fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zoneof India.
Government of Indiaalso advise the Coastal States and Union Territories from time to time to issue necessary Orders to prohibit destructive fishing methods including LED light fishing, pair/bull trawling.
In addition, uniform fishing ban is implemented in the Indian EEZ for a period of 61 days on East Coast and the West Coast. However, the traditional non-motorized fishing vessels are exempted from this uniform fishing ban imposed in the Indian EEZ beyond territorial waters.
- Government of India has no proposal to privatize the fisheries sector.
- and (d) Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is steering the draft National Policy for India’s Blue Economy-2021 (NPIBE-2021) as the nodal Ministry and as per the information received from MoES, the draft policy on India’s Blue Economy framework is under consideration.
This information was given by The Minister of Fisheries , Animal Husbandry Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.
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