In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "A Navigational Warning or NAVAREA has been been issued by the Chief Hydrographer of India sensitising the transiting merchant traffic about fishing activities."
The Director General Shipping has also issued a notice to apprise the shipping community about the fishing activities on the South West coast of India, he said.
"Some foreign vessels are transiting very close to Indian west coast to avoid piracy attack by Somalian pirates, leading to their transgression into the fishing zone utilised by Indian fishermen," Antony added.
On steps taken to safeguard the Indian fishermen, he said, "Regular patrolling and air surveillance by Indian Coast Guard are conducted to ensure coastal security...ICG also conducts regular community interaction programs with the fishing community to apprise them about safety measures."
The Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has also issued an advisory for merchant vessels transiting the area close to Indian waters to be careful about small fishing boats, the minister said.
"The UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) had also been approached by the ICG for issuing necessary advisory for mariners transiting the area about fishing activities to be encountered off the Indian coast," Antony said.
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He added that similar efforts have been made to rope in the Information Sharing Centre established at Singapore under the Regional Cooperation Agreement for Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).
Replying to a question on coastal security, he said, "An estimated expenditure of Rs 6,960 crore has been sanctioned for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard towards this end." (More)