Fisheries Sector

Parliamentary panel criticises fisheries ministry for fund underutilisation

A Parliamentary panel on Tuesday criticised the fisheries ministry for under-utilisation of funds allocated in the Budget and asked it to address the issue. "...the reasons for under-utilisation continue to remain the same," the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing said in its third report submitted to Parliament. The under-utilisation of funds continues even after more than three years of putting in place a new financial system by the Ministry of Finance, it said. The committee recommended the Department of Fisheries make "serious efforts" and "proactively liaise" with state governments and state fisheries departments to address this issue for positive results. The committee noted that targeted and effective implementation of the department's schemes becomes imperative for the socio-economic upliftment of the fishermen in general and traditional fishermen in particular. "It, therefore, becomes all the more necessary that the Budget allocation fo

India seeks stronger WTO subsidy regulations for high seas fishing

India has pitched at the WTO for stricter regulations on subsidies granted by countries that are engaged in high seas fishing activities, an official said. Highlighting the stark disparity, an Indian document submitted at the World Trade Organization (WTO) has noted that it provides a modest USD 35 per fisher annually, compared to subsidies as high as USD 76,000 per fisher per year in some European nations. India also suggested that historical subsidisers should seek permission of the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies for grant of subsidies in future. The country has made these remarks in the meetings of the Negotiating Group on Rules (Fisheries subsidies), which are going on in Geneva. "India has pitched for strong disciplines for historical fisheries subsidisers which are engaged in distant water fishing (200 nautical miles from sea shore) and has asked for a moratorium on subsidies at the present level for 25 years," the official said. On these demands, India was supported by ..

China's coast guard blasts water cannon, sideswipes vessel: Philippines

Chinese coast guard vessels, backed by navy ships, fired powerful water cannons and blocked and sideswiped a Philippine patrol vessel Wednesday in renewed aggression in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Philippine officials said. Three Philippine coast guard and bureau of fisheries vessels were on routine patrol to protect Filipino fishermen at the Scarborough Shoal when several Chinese coast guard and navy ships approached and staged aggressive actions after dawn, the Philippine coast guard said. There was no immediate comment from Chinese officials. In the past, they have repeatedly cited China's sovereignty in the contested offshore region and their determination to defend what they say is their territory despite a 2016 international arbitration decision that invalidated Beijing's historical claims. China's reported actions in the disputed waters came after a respite of more than a month while back-to-back major storms prevented many Philippine fishing and commercial vesse

Govt to set up high-level panel for roadmap to develop fisheries sector

The government on Sunday decided to constitute a high-level committee comprising senior officials to chalk out a roadmap for further development of the fisheries sector. A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting between Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh here at Krishi Bhavan. Highlighting the research undertaken by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in the field of fisheries, Chouhan stressed on the need to develop "model farms" to boost the income of small farmers, an official statement said. "In this regard, it has been decided to constitute a high-level committee in the field of fisheries composed of senior officials of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and ICAR," the agriculture ministry said in a statement. The committee will hold regular meetings and prepare a roadmap, it added. Chouhan said the state governments and other stakeholders need to be

Avail finance ministry's services to boost business: FM to fisherfolks

Urging the fishing community to avail the benefits offered through the Kisan credit card, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said it would help boost their trade. At a BJP membership drive here, Sitharaman said members of the fishing community who's applications were rejected by banks and financial institutions, may approach her for redressal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi felt the need for a separate department to address the issues related to fisheries and therefore, a dedicated department has been set up, she said in her address. "There are a lot of schemes for the welfare of the fishermen and they can avail term loan facilities to grow their businesses." Pointing out that a dedicated Kisan Credit Card was launched by the Centre to serve farmers' community, PM Modi suggested that a similar mechanism be developed to serve those who have been traditionally engaged in ocean farming along India's coastline for several years, Sitharaman said. "It

G20 backs FAO's Blue Transformation for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture

FAO Blue Transformation strategy aims to ensure aquatic food systems continue feeding the world's growing population

Govt designates CMFRI as Centre of Excellence for seaweed cultivation

The Department of Fisheries under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has designated the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute as a Centre of Excellence for seaweed cultivation. The regional centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at Mandapam in Tamil Nadu will serve as a hub for research, development, training and capacity building in seaweed cultivation. "The centre will promote sustainable seaweed farming practices and address key challenges in the area with an aim to enhance India's role in the global seaweed industry," CMFRI said in a release. Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI termed this development as a crucial step in unlocking the country's potential in seaweed cultivation. "The centre will focus on several key areas, including works on improving seaweed cultivation techniques and addressing challenges," he said. The release said a seed bank will be established to maintain the genetic diversity of indigenous .

Govt aims to boost fishery sector by taking exports to Rs 1 trn per year

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Wednesday said the government is focusing on increasing annual seafood exports to Rs 1 lakh crore from around Rs 60,000 crore last fiscal and will also take measures to strengthen the foundation of the fishery sector over the next five years. Singh, who is Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, was addressing an event to mark the 4th Anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY) here. He also launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojna, and released the standard operating procedure on production & processing clusters in the fisheries sector. The minister noted that the fishery sector, which provides livelihood for more than 3 crore fishers and fish farmers, did not get due attention since independence. However, Singh said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has taken various decisions since 2014 for the growth of this important sector, including the launch of the PMSSY scheme with an .

Fisheries plane threatened by flares from Chinese base, says Philippines

A Philippine fisheries bureau plane was threatened by flares fired from a Chinese island base while conducting a routine patrol in the South China Sea, Philippine officials said Saturday. It's the latest territorial spat between Beijing and Manila over one of the world's busiest trade routes, with confrontations spreading from the disputed waters to the airspace above. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' Cessna 208B Grand Caravan plane was flying near Subi Reef on Thursday when it spotted flares being fired from the fishing atoll, which has been transformed by China into a militarised island base, a Philippine government interagency task force said in a statement. No other details were provided, including the distance of the flares from the Philippine plane and if it proceeded with its patrol to monitor for poachers in the internationally recognised exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. The same Philippine fisheries plane was subjected to harassment on August 19 wh

Fisheries scam: Gujarat HC rejects discharge pleas of two ex-BJP ministers

The Gujarat High Court has rejected the pleas filed by former BJP ministers Parshottam Solanki and Dileep Sanghani seeking their discharge in an alleged Rs 400-crore fisheries scam. The court of Justice Hemant Prachchhak on Friday dismissed the petitions moved by Solanki, Sanghani and one Arjun Suthariya challenging a March 12, 2021, order of a special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court rejecting their discharge applications in the case. Earlier, the HC had stayed criminal proceedings against the ex-ministers. While rejecting their pleas, the court on Friday extended its stay on criminal proceedings against the former ministers for another four weeks. The alleged scam is from 2008 when Solanki was the minister of state for fisheries and Sanghani was the cabinet minister for agriculture in Gujarat. At that time, a Palanpur-based businessman, Ishaq Maradia, moved the HC alleging that Solanki flouted rules by allotting fishing contracts without following the tendering process. Marad

Fishers Coop allege income loss amid inability to operate insurance scheme

In India much of the fisheries sector is dominated by cooperatives who number around 28,000

WTO MC13: Abu Dhabi meet ends with no consensus on agri, fisheries

Countries agree to renew the e-commerce moratorium until next ministerial

WTOs 5th day meet: Talks begin to break impasse over agri, fisheries issues

The meeting of the highest decision making body of the WTO on Friday entered the fifth day with key members including India, the US and EU holding talks to iron out differences on issues such as agriculture, fisheries subsidies, and duty moratorium on e-commerce trade. The 13h ministerial conference (MC), which was to end on February 29, extended for a day as developing and developed nations were unable to find a common ground on these key issues. The members are talking to end the impasse and so far things have not moved much, an official said. "There are nine countries in the Green Room meeting including Brazil and China. The negotiations have been extended as WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is pushing for outcomes," the official said. However, officials here are not sounding positive so far about bridging the differences and coming out with a ministerial declaration, which is a must for the success of the conference. India has clearly stated that finding a permanent solution to t

Cabinet okays Rs 6,000 crore scheme for formalisation of fisheries sector

Further, on insurance, the scheme proposed a one-time incentive to the willing farmers against purchase of insurance with a farm size of four hectares of water spread area and less

AI can help address challenges in marine fisheries, says NITI Aayog VC

The application of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence could help address the challenges in the marine fisheries sector, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Suman Bery, said here on Friday. Inaugurating a national workshop on harnessing the potential of fisheries in the marine states, Bery emphasised the role of technology as a vital growth driver. The workshop was organised at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in association with Kerala Fisheries Department. Bery stressed the importance of understanding the dynamics of demand for prioritising production strategies. "Application of frontier technologies like artificial intelligence could help address the challenges in the marine fisheries sector. Given that demand for fish is on the rise, innovative strategies to enhance productivity are required," Bery said, adding that demand is the driving force of the economy. The workshop was held to discuss relevant issues in marine fisheries, develop tailored

Strong quake in China that killed at least 148 cause losses worth millions

The strong earthquake that hit northwest China this week, killing at least 148 people, caused economic losses estimated to be worth tens of millions in the agricultural and fisheries industries, state media said Saturday. Officials in Gansu conducted preliminary assessments that showed the province's agricultural and fisheries industries have lost 532 million yuan (about USD 74.6 million), state broadcaster CCTV reported. Authorities were considering the best use of the relief fund, set up days before, for the agricultural sector to resume production as soon as possible, the report said. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck in a mountainous region Monday night between Gansu and Qinghai provinces and about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) southwest of Beijing, the Chinese capital. CCTV said 117 people were killed in Gansu and 31 others died in neighboring Qinghai, while three people remained missing. Nearly 1,000 were injured and more than 14,000 homes were destroyed. During a visit Saturday

Uttar Pradesh bags first prize for best state in inland fisheries

Uttar Pradesh has won the best state award in the inland fisheries category, according to a state government official. The award will be given during the Global Fisheries Conference 2023, which will be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on November 21. November 21 is celebrated as World Fisheries Day. Special Secretary to the Fisheries Department, Prashant Sharma, said that Uttar Pradesh has won the best state award in the Inland Fisheries category. Speaking to reporters here at the Lok Bhavan, Nishad said that as directed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the schemes related to fishery have been implemented at the ground level. As a result of this, in the past six-and-a-half years, there has been a significant increase in fish production in the state. It is the visionary thought process of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that the state has bagged the top spot in inland fish rearing. Last year, the fish production was 8.09 lakh metric tonnes, while it is 9.15 lakh metric to

Explore potential of handloom, fisheries in Assam's Bodo areas: Guv

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has suggested framing of strategies to explore the handloom, sericulture and fisheries sectors in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas so that the products could be taken to the markets across the country. While reviewing various development schemes at the administrative headquarters of the BTC at Kokrajhar on Monday, Kataria advised the departmental heads of the BTC to ensure equitable development in all its four districts, according to an official release. The BTC, an autonomous elected authority, was created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for the tribal Bodo community in Assam. The governor emphasised the potential of the handloom, sericulture, tourism and fisheries sectors in the BTC areas and suggested framing of marketing strategies so that the products could be taken to the country-wide audience, the release said. Kataria took stock of the sector-wise physical and financial progress of central and state flagship scheme

Japan makes final plea to gain fisheries' understanding for Fukushima plant

Japanese government officials sought understanding from fisheries groups on Monday for the impending release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and pledged to support their livelihoods throughout the process that will take decades. Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura met with the head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and promised that the government is doing everything it can to ensure the safety of the release and prepared measures to protect the fisheries industry's reputation. Nishimura told the fisheries official, Masanobu Sakamoto, that the water release is essential for the plant decommissioning and Fukushima's recovery and can't be postponed. He also said the government will stand by the concerns and needs of the fisheries community until the release ends decades later. Sakamoto, at the outset, stressed that his organization as a whole remains opposed to the release, but he said members of

Centre asks ICAR-CIFA to focus on research on diseases affecting fisheries

The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) should carry out need-based research for the benefit of aqua farmers and focus on diseases that cause huge loss to the industry every year, Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said on Wednesday. The secretary -- who reviewed the activities of ICAR-CIFA and the National Fresh Water Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB) in Bhubaneswar -- also urged the two institutes to take steps to create mass awareness about developed technology and best management practices among farmers. Likhi also reviewed the progress of projects sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in Odisha. He also visited Penthakata village in Puri, where fishermen demanded the construction of fish landing centre/jetty and a clean fish market, according to a statement. The secretary directed the state government officials to extend assistance to them under central and state schemes, it added.