Radha Mohan Singh Inaugurates 33rd Session of Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission
New Policy to be Brought for Fast Growth of Fisheries Sector and Fishermen Welfare
5 Dariya News
New Delhi 23-Jun-2014
The Government is planning to develop a policy for aquaculture growth in the country. This was announced by Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh, while inaugurating the 33rd session of Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission at Hyderabad today. Elaborating this, the Minister said, ‘Blue growth’ is another important area for sustainable food security. The oceans and the inland waters of our countries offer excellent scope for blue growth. The under exploited potential resources of the country can usher in a ‘blue revolution’ or ‘aquaplosion’ by utilising the same. The resources are to be judiciously and rationally utilised for Aquaculture. We are also planning to develop a policy for aquaculture growth in the country, considering its vast potentials.’
Highlighting the importance of the fisheries sector in providing livelihood to a large section of the population and also vast potential of fisheries in the country, the Minister strongly advocated sustainability and fishermen’s welfare. He said, ‘Sustainable growth of fisheries and aquaculture is possible only if the sector’s socio-economic benefits accrue to a large social spectrum. The maxim for policy makers should aim at ensuring the desired growth duly preserving the natural resource base and millions of livelihood; since fisheries and aquaculture are predominantly livelihood activities. Therefore, we should not forget the marine fishers, fish farmers and their welfare in our obsession for increasing fish production and productivity.’
The Minister also shared his concerns about the sector. He said, ‘This sector is confronted with serious inadequacies of planning, funding and management despite being one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the global agricultural economy and despite being the only solution to the global availability of food fish. There are innumerable challenges to the growth of aquaculture species, ranging from availability of seeds and feed, environmental threats, disease risks, trade barriers to name a few; these threaten both economic and socio-economic development in many developing countries of the world.’ Shri Singh offered India’s cooperation in aquaculture and fisheries to other countries, both for their sustainable development and management.
India’s Fish Resources
Agriculture Minister informed the gathering that India stands world number 2 in global fish production. Further India stands world number two in the sectors of Inland capture and aquaculture. We are number 7 in marine capture production/fisheries. Our total production is 9.51 million metric. India registered an increase of 92.8% in aquaculture and 15.1 % in marine catches in the last 10 years (2003-12). The share of India’s production from aquaculture is 6.3% of the World. ‘India is bestowed with wide array of natural resources for developing marine, brackish water and inland fisheries. Presently, Aquaculture holds importance, since enhanced fish production by sustainable aquaculture is the key for ensuring food security and poverty alleviation. Aquaculture in India relies heavily on inland aquaculture of finfish even though potential for mariculture production of finfish remains largely untapped. Now, we are finalising the guidelines for foraying in to mariculture in cages along with cage culture in open water bodies such as reservoirs. The cage culture is aimed at effective and optimal tapping the potential for natural water resources of marine and inland waters.
‘Aquaculture has a long history in Asia and is also linked to our heritage and culture although we are, of late, facing severe challenges in fisheries and aquaculture sustainability and its management. According to FAO estimates, the human consumption of fish is about 80% of the world’s fish production at per capita of 17.1 kilogram which is expected to rise considerably by the year 2030. Therefore, it is necessary that we need to collectively take measures for sustainable increase in fish production. It is well known fact that fishes are being over exploited from the waters; while little attention is given to pollution and other threats that are harming fish stocks. With the capture fishery resources dwindling at an alarming rate, the international community needs to take certain harsh / drastic measures for ensuring continuous supply of food fish. This underlines the importance that fisheries and aquaculture, directly or indirectly, play as an essential role in the livelihoods of millions of people in the region and entire world from the small-scale fishers and farmers who harvest the fish to the men and women who work in the post-harvest handling and large processing industry,’ the Minister said.
The meeting was attended by representatives from FAO, the Fisheries Commission and Agriculture Ministry, and delegates from countries of Asia Pacific Region. Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission (APFIC) is an important platform for the governments of APFIC members, international and regional fisheries and aquaculture organizations to discuss important and emerging issues related to the development and management of fisheries and aquaculture in Asia and Pacific region.