Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy

205 Pages·2013·47.1 MB·English

Background Reading Material
Zonal Workshop
~v
Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy:
I
Alternative Livelihoods and Sustainability
Perspectives for Northern States
6-7 July, 2007
Chandigarh
Joint(v Orgalll:,ed by Participati11g States
CIFE, Mumbai Haryana, Punjab,
Delhi, Rajasthan,
and
Himachal Pradesh
Fisheries Department Jammu and Kashmir,
Uttarakhand and
Haryana
U.T. Chandigarh
Central Institute of Fisheries Education
(Deemed University- I AR)
Fi hone University Road, VeJ'llova, Mumbai - 400 06J
Background Reading Material
IV Zonal Workshop
Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy:
Alternative Livelihoods and SustainabHity
Perspectives for Northern States
6-7 July, 2007
Chandigarh
Jointly Orgallized by Participating States
eIFE, Mumbai Haryana, Punjab,
Delhi, Rajasthan,
and
Himachal Pradesh
Fisheries Department Jammu and Kashmir,
Uttarakhand and
Haryana
U.T. Chandigarh
Central Institute of Fisheries ducation
(Deemed UniversilY- [CAR).
Fisheries University Road, Versova, Mumbai - 400 061
For
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The VICWS and opiniolls containcu in this material do not neccssarily rcneet the Views and posllllllb 01'
CIFE. Mumbai. This is intcnded only as a back),!round rc,luing materi .. 1 in the context of' :I'd /.onal
Workshop Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy: Alternative Liwlihoods and Slistainability I'crspl'ctiws
1'01' Northem Stnles being organised by C1FE, rvturnbai in partnership with Fisheries J)cpartllll'lIl.
lIaryana in Chandigarh during 6-7 July. 2007.
Contents
SI. No. Titles
I. Policy Guidelines from Workshops on Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy for
Discussion, June 2007
2. The Indian Fisheries Act. 1897
3. The Punjab Fisheries Ordinance,I961
4. HI' Fisheries Act.1976
5. Drafl Fisheries Policy. Orissa, 2007
6. State Reservoir Fishery Policy, Orissa, 2004
7. NABARD's Approach Note to XI Five Year Plan, 2006
8. NABARD and Microfinance in fisheries
9. National Fisheries Policy. Bangladesh. 1998
10. Fishe~ies Law of People's Republic of China, 1986
II. fisheries Policy Direction of Thailand. 2006
12. National Fisheries Sector Policy, Cambodia, 2005
13. Inland Fisheries Policy. Ghana, Africa, 2006
14. Global Fisheries Policies by World Forum of Fisher People, 2007
15. IL O adopts comprehensive new labour standards for millions in the worlds fishing
sector
16. Cold water Fisheries in the Trans- Himalayan Countries, FA O Fisheries technical
paper
17. Potential of inland saline Aquaculture, South Australia
18. Indian Fisheries related legal instrument: Central
Poltey Guidelines from the
Zonal Workshops on Fisheries and Aquaculture Pottey
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbaf has taken a lead role in
facilitating the process of developing an overarching Fisheries and Aquaculture
Policy Framework at the Centre and a Comprehensive Fisheries Policy in the
States. The facilitation process involves organizing consultative and partiCipatory
meeting at different levels involvi,ng all the stakeholders. CIFE has planned to
organize five zonal workshops across the country and a concluding national
workshop at Mumbai with active support and participation of State Departments of
Fisheries, ICAR sister institutions, Union Ministry of Agriculture and State
departments of Water Resources, Environment and Forests, fishers and farmers,
cooperatives, and committed NGOs. In the last six months, three workshops were
conducted involving North Eastern States in Guwahati (7-8 December, 2006),
involving East Coast States in Hyderabad (22-24 March, 2007) and involving West
Coast States in Goa (21-23 June 2007).
The three workshops so far have provided a platform where the policy
related issues in the different sub sectors of fisheries and aquaculture from the
concerned States were subjected to detailed discussion and critical feedback by
the stakeholders particularly the fishers, farmers and the fisheries department
officials and the experts. Besides helping them share the field level experiences
from different States and ecosystems, the workshops have evoked lot of
excitement, interest as well as critical introspection among all the stakeholders.
While the output and recommendations of the three workshops shalt, provide
essential ingredients that would assist the States in developing their own State
level fisheries policies, the workshop process itself has provided new impetus and
vigour to the cause of fisheries and aquaculture development in general and the
importance of comprehensive pol'cy in particular.
Shri Eduardo Faleiro's concluding remarks fn the third Zonal workshop is
particularly relevant in this context. He underscored that the process of fisheries
development and policy making shall be participatory and involves the traditional
and mechanised fishers 'in addition to the fisheries officers, scientists and other
stakeholders. Emphasising that fisheries is the State subject, he said that there is a
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need to evolve a comprehensive State level fisheries policies. However, he also
underscored the need for an overarching National level policy as the ocean is one
and the fish migrates across different States for they do not recognise whether its
Bengal coast, Goa coast or Gujarat coast. The respective State policies shall be in
sync with and be an integral part of the National policy. He said that in order for
India to regain the economic prosperity that it once enjoyed before the colonial
exploitation and to become a true superpower in terms of improved livelihood
standards for its people, a greater degree of solidarity and cooperation is required
with other Asian countries. In fisheries sector, for example, Indian fishers and
farmers can learn and benefit from the experiences of Thailand, Vietnam and
China as there are many resource and socio-economic similarities. Drawing upon
his experience from World Commission on Oceans, he highlighted the danger of
giving unrestricted access to foreign fishing vessels which will destroy not only the
livelihoods of poor fishers but also their wisdom gained through generations.
Citing the example of disappearance of cod fishery in Canada due to
overexploitation on one hand and the declining income to the poor fishers in India
in recent years on the other hand, he argued for a balancing act between the
concerns of sustainability of fisheries resources and ensuring the livelihood of poor
fishers at the same time. Besides, he wanted the State fisheries department to
reorient itself from desk oriented department to site (field) oriented department
in order to transfer the technologies effectively and provide other support services
to the target clientele. Empathising with the field staff, he wondered why they are
not provided with two wheelers and fuel allowance that are essential to visit the
field when India is the largest producer of motor cycles in the world. He urged that
if Israel with Limited naturaL resources can transform itseLf to highly productive
agriculture Landscape, India can very well excel with appropriate technoLogies and
its proper adoption. Finally, he desired the stringent quality and safety standards
that are being applied to the exported fish products to be equally applicable to the
domestically available fish so as to provide safe and quality fish to our consumers.
The overall and sub-sector specific policy guidelines and inputs that
emanated from the three workshops are given below to facilitate the discussion in
the next two workshops.
2
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Policy GUldelines from the
Zonal Workshops on Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
1. The workshop recognized that effective fisheries development and
management are possible only when the resource owners and resource users
work together for management of resources for sustainable utilization and
livelihood security.
2. The extent to which the communities participate in the development and
management process depends upon the extent to which the communities are
empowered. Therefore empowerment of resource users community should be
the centre of focus for development.
3. Workshop felt that an enabling and comprehensive fisheries and aquaculture
policy is of utmost importance for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
development, and harnessing its potential for creating rural livelihood and
nutritional security. In this context, the policy framework recommended by this
Workshop will provide a basis for respective States in formulating policies at
state levels depending upon their needs, priorities, available resources and
opportunities.
4. The policy framework developed in the Zonal Workshop can serve as an
important input for developing a National level overarching Fisheries and
Aquaculture Policy framework. This will go a long way in preparing harmonized
fisheries policies of various states through bottom-up policy developmental
approach that is sensitive to the concerns of all the states and stakeholders
(current as well as future). FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
(CCRF) to be also taken into consideration as it provides a framework for policy
development. This will also help implementation of CCRF to which India is also
a signatory
5. Aquaculture to be made on par with agriculture for credit, tax, energy, water
and land allocation, conSidering its role in poverty alleviation, creations of
rural alternative livelihood and food and nutritional security.
6. There needs to be a paradigm shift from the classic transfer of technology
approach to participatory extension system wherein the potential and strength
of target group is harnessed for demand driven and effective extension services
delivery system. Fisheries co-management and farmers participated Trickle
down System (TDS) of aquaculture are some of several such innovative
approaches.
7. Since emphasis is given by various Education Institutions to produce job
creators instead of job seekers, fisheries professionals! graduates be given
preference in allocation of water and land areas for fisheries/aquaculture
ventures.
8. To ensure from ad-hoc based short term to a medium and long term
development, it is a prerequisite that, the leadership of Fisheries Department
should be in the hand of Technical person who remains with the Department
for long time and is accountable.
9. To harness untapped immense resources and for sustainability, there is a strong
• case for creation of separate ministry for fisheries.
Sub-sector specific inputs for policy framework generated from
different work group discussions during the workshop
A. Marine Fisheries
1. Implementation of mesh regulation should be done strictly - this can be
achieved by participatory approach involving the fishers
2. The demarcation of fishing areas for different vessels should be made in terms
of fishing rights
3. Customary! traditional rights should be recognised ! ensured for the fisher
folk.
4. CRZ should be reviewed taking into account the need to protect the coastal
resources as well as the developmental needs of the aquaculture sector
5. Stakeholders' participation should be there before taking up new constructions
or which involves ecological changes in the fishing grounds / area.
6. Newly licensed deep sea fishing vessels should not operate in traditional fishing
grounds.
7. The quality of fish landed is poor and the fisher is not getting a good price.
Hence, the infrastructure facilities, including the marketing facilities, in all the
landing centres / harbours have to be improved.
8. Introduction of eco-friendly vessels using CNG engines should be encouraged.
9. The policy shall incorporate provisions for implementation of Code of Conduct
for Responsible Fisheries suggested by FAO
10. Pollution is one of the major factors for the destruction of traditional fishers'
livelihood. Discharge of untreated pollutants shouLd be checked and the
existing regulations need to be strictly implemented
11. The high rate of interest for loans for modernisation of vesseLs is to be brought
down
12. At all sea beaches, the tourism activities/facilities should be run by Fisher Co-
operative Societies. I
13. Need based research with due consultation with stake holders should be done.
14. The management costs - social, economical & administration costs - of different
programs need to be analysed and accounted for in consultation with the
stakeholders.
15. The mandate of CICEF should be examined for promoting harbour development.
16. Present method of data collection has many problems and the capacity of DoF
is inadequate. All the maritime states expressed that the collection of data by
singe agency (CMFRI) is to be given serious consideration.
17. Standardisation of terminologies with regard to definition of traditional and
industrial fishers, craft & gear, etc is to be done
B. Inland Fisheries
.
1. A detailed protocol for the management of reservoirs may be developed on a
priority basis taking into account the co-management principles
2. Riverine management must come under the concurrent list
3. Constitution of a working group involving trade an? development officers with
fisheries scientists for defining different terminology used in aquaculture and
fisheries and related aspects.
4. Inhabitants in proximity to the resource and Rroviding livelihood shall be the
guiding principles in granting the leasing rights I
5. Appropriate management measures are the need of the day for the
conservation and habitat restoration of the riverine resources
6. Demand assessment for water for fisheries and aquaculture to be done at the
national level
7. To ensure parity with agriculture, allocation of the essential need, water, be
made for fisheries and aquaculture in comparison with agriculture
8. Constituting an interdepartmental co-ordination committee for inland fisheries
resource management
9. For utilizing the open water resources, appropriate regulatory framework may
be developed under existing laws and rules
10. The guiding principle in deciding the lease should be based on the livelihood
generation. In addition leasing systems with the co-operatives may continue,
however in specific situation need based alternatives such as allotment to lease
groups such as SHGs, women, unemployed educated youth and tribal may be
given preference
11. The National Committee on the introduction of exotic species should ensure
that their decisions are implemented strictly
12. All research and development programs of the open water resources should be
linked with environmental conservation and hf.lbitat restoration, especially for
wetlands - both brackishwater and fresh water
13. Newly created perennial water canal resources are to be utilized for fish
production through innovative R&D approach
C. Freshwater Aquaculture
1. Defining the status of aquaculture: Aquaculture to be treated at par with
agriculture for the purpose of energy and water charge, credit and tax relief.
Concessional charges in air and rail freight for seed transportation; Survey of
suitable water bodies for freshwater aquaculture needs to be undertaken ..