The Odisha government has unveiled its draft fisheries policy, aimed at bridging the gap between the demand and supply of fish for domestic consumption, encouraging public private partnership (PPP) investment in fisheries sector and tapping the untapped potential of aquaculture to ensure food and nutritional security.
Other objectives of the policy include upgradation of infrastructure facilities in the fisheries sector, upgradation of overall quality of fish, enhancing productivity and production of fish and expanding export markets for high value products.
The policy has envisioned a balanced approach to fisheries management based on sound ecological, economic and precautionary principles to ensure that the fish population remain viable, productive and accessible to future generations.
It has also stressed on an efficient value chain and an organised and secure marketing for fish and fishery products so as to protect the producers’ and consumers’ interest and augment marine products export and foreign exchange earnings of Odisha.
The key areas of this comprehensive fisheries policy are based on the national and international commitments and requirements, covering the entire gamut of fisheries, harvest and post-harvest infrastructure and market support, socio-economic aspects of fisheries and related issues. The policy has identified key opportunities in the fisheries sector- revitalization and modernisation of fish ponds, ever increasing demand for fresh water fish, upgradation of fish harbours, utilisation of technologies for minimizing adverse environmental impact and creation of alternative livelihood for the fishermen community.
However, import of less expensive fish and fish products, clandestine import and introduction of diseased/infected seeds in culture systems, increased sedimentation of the coastal structures, natural calamities and spread of fish and shrimp diseases pose threat to the sector.
Aiming to offer fiscal incentives, the policy seeks to declare aquaculture as an agriculture activity for enabling easy flow of credit/ institutional finance. Necessary incentives and tax holidays will be provided to large scale fish farmers who produce at least 10 tonne of fish per hectare (ha). To make fish processing in Odisha more lucrative and competitive in the export and domestic markets, the duties, taxes and other levies such as cess on export of fish and fisheries products, on packaging material and machinery will be rationalised in consultation with the concerned authorities.
The policy says adequate and timely credit will be provided to investors, particularly towards working capital to fish processing sector. The government will also promote insurance in fresh water aquaculture by providing 50 per cent of the insurance premium.
Total fish production in the state in 2012-13 stood at 410,144 tonne. While the fish production from the inland fisheries and brackish water resources has increased from 218,716 tonne from 2007-08 to 291,833 tonne in 2012-13, there has been a decline in marine fish production from 130,767 tonne to 118,311 tonne in the same period. Marine products exports from Odisha stood at Rs 886.15 crore in 2012-13 and the figure is expected to cross Rs 1,000 crore by the end of 2013-14.
