Government has decided for introducing a comprehensive and integrated ‘National Fisheries Policy, 2020’ by integrating the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 (NPMF), the Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (NIFAP) and the Draft National Mariculture Policy (NMP) along with the elements of Post-Harvest.

Background

Fisheries resources are set in different ecosystems. With growing population and the increasing demand for fish protein, the need for sustainable development of aquatic resources is now felt much more than ever before. To meet the compelling demands, it is necessary to develop a sound National Fisheries Policy (NFP) framework, which is based on the cardinal principles of equity and equality and adopts a people centric and participatory approach; mainstreams gender, and maintains inter-generational equity.

India has rich and diverse fisheries resources ranging from deep seas to lakes, ponds, rivers and more than 10% of the global biodiversity in terms of fish and shellfish species. The marine fisheries resources are spread along the country’s vast coastline and 2.02 million square km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and 0.53 million sq.km continental shelf area. The inland resources are in the form of rivers and canals (1.95 lakh km), floodplain lakes (8.12 lakh hectares), ponds and tanks (24.1 lakh hectares), reservoirs (31.5 lakh hectares), brackish water (12.4 lakh hectares), saline/alkaline affected areas (12 lakh hectares) etc.

National Fisheries Policy 2020, offer a strategized way forward to develop, harness, manage and regulate capture and culture fisheries in a responsible and sustainable manner, thus ensuring a productive integration with other economic sectors, such as agriculture, coastal area development and eco-tourism, to meet the goals of the ‘Blue Economy’.

Objective

    1. Optimally harness the capture and culture fisheries potential of the country by enhancing fish production and productivity in a responsible and sustainable manner.

    2. A robust management and regulatory framework with necessary legal backing for effective fisheries resource management through an Ecosystem Approach of Fisheries (EAF) management within the overall framework of relevant national and international instruments, policies and standards.

    3. Modernize, rationalize (infuse science and technology) and diversify fishing practices in oceans and seas with sustainability of resources as the core philosophy.

    4. Promote Inland fisheries and aquaculture through standardized SoP’s, inputs and farming systems for sustainable and responsible culture and capture fisheries.

    5. Conserve and manage native fish genetic stocks and associated habitats and ecosystem.

    6. Strengthen and modernize value chain including creation of fisheries infrastructure to increase shelf life, reduction of post-harvest losses and production of value added products.

    7. Market, trade and export of globally competitive fish and value-added fish products benchmarked with global standards.

    8. Access to institutional credit as priority lending on the lines of crop sector especially to small and marginal fishers and fish farmers and unemployed youth.

    9. Promote community partnerships, private participation and effective cooperative movement in fisheries sector.

    10. Generate gainful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities along the value chain leading to higher income of fishers and fish farmers, improve their living standards and usher in economic prosperity.

    11. Ensure food and nutritional security by increasing the per capita availability of safe, affordable and quality fish.

The policy dwells on fisheries management, island fisheries, Mariculture, inland fisheries such as riverine, reservoir fisheries, wetlands, cold water fisheries, ornamental fisheries, recreational fisheries, freshwater & Brackish water aquaculture, post-harvest management etc.

Government of India has announced a new dedicated scheme for fisheries sector namely Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under Atmanirbhar Bharat COVID-19 Relief Package.

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under its various components provide financial assistance for traditional fishers including fish workers for various enlisted activities in the scheme including livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fishers’ families during fishing ban/lean period for conservation of fisheries resources.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)