Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala
Coastal Fisher Folk in Kerala
(a) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, through its schemes, policies and programmes has taken up several initiatives towards holistic development of fisheries including strengthening the livelihood of fishers. Under the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented by the Department, during last 5 years and current year fisheries developmental projects amounting to Rs. 1418.51 crore has been approved to Kerala. The approved activities inter-alia include support towards deep sea fishing vessels (20 Nos), installation of artificial reefs along the coast for stock rejuvenation(42 Nos), alternate/additional livelihood activities like bivalve cultivation(1140 Nos), biofloc units(780 Nos), Re-Circulatory Aquaculture System (RAS) (708 Nos). In terms of welfare, livelihood support to fishers during fish ban (1,71,033 Nos) has been approved to Kerala. In addition, establishment of Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages (09 Nos), Climate Resilient Coastal Villages (06 Nos), extension support services -Matsya Seva Kendras (10 Nos) and Sagar Mitras (222 Nos) are also approved to Kerala for strengthening the coastal fisheries and infrastructure in the region.
Further, uniform fishing ban is implemented for a period of 61 days, from 15th April to 14th June on the East Coast and from 1st June to 31st July on the West Coast in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for rejuvenation of fish stock. The DoF, GoI has also issued orders to prohibit destructive fishing practices like bull or pair trawling and use of artificial lights/LED lights for fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and similar prohibitions are also imposed within territorial waters by the coastal States/UTs including Kerala such as Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of fish species, mesh size and fishing gear regulations, etc.
(b): The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) being the nodal Ministry in the subject matter has informed that the Government of India has formulated the Public Distribution Superior Kerosene Oil (PDS SKO) Allocation Policy under which government makes allocation of PDS Kerosene States/UTs on quarterly basis for cooking & lighting and for special needs (fisheries, mela, exhibitions, pandemic, calamity etc.). Further distribution of PDS Kerosene within the State/UT under PDS network is carried out by the concerned State/UT. Scale and criteria of the distribution is accordingly, also decided by the respective State/UT. Further, with effect from 1st March, 2020, the retail selling price of PDS kerosene is being maintained at a NIL under-recovery level on a pan-India basis.
(c): As informed by the Ministry of Mines, the Offshore Areas Mineral and Development Act, 2002, and the Rules framed thereunder, namely, Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024 and Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024 are having the provisions to ensure the environment protection and preventing any adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem.
(d): Under PMMSY, providing safe landing and berthing facility and strengthening of post-harvest infrastructure including cold chain facilities are one of the priority activities. During last 5 years and current year under PMMSY, various infrastructure projects in this line have been approved to Kerala which includes expansion/upgradation of fishing harbors (7 Nos), maintenance dredging of existing harbors (6Nos), establishment of ice plants/cold storages(16 Nos), transport vehicles for enhancing the shelf life of fishes(468 Nos), whole sale fish markets (2 Nos), retail market (5 Nos), fish kiosk (90 Nos), live fish vending centres (77 Nos), Value added enterprise units(10 Nos).
This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha today in response to a question asked.