The Hindu Business Line : Policy on marine fishing in the offing

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday gave its nod for evolving the `Marine Fishing Policy 2004'. An Empowered Committee and also a Standing Consultative Committee would be set up to formulate the policy, the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, told reporters here.

The CCEA also gave its nod for taking initiatives to ensure all-round development of fisheries in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadweep with special emphasis on their locational and demographic characteristics.

The promulgation of Marine Fishing Policy with legal framework for its enforcement is expected to result in all-round development of marine fisheries sector of the country. Official sources said that this would also ensure balanced growth of all stakeholder groups and minimise inter-sectoral clashes.

Besides augmenting production, the policy would also seek to ensure socio-economic security of the artisanal fisherman whose livelihood solely depends on this vocation. Further, it would strive to ensure sustainable development of marine fisheries with due concern for ecological integrity and biodiversity.

The `Empowered Committee on Marine Fisheries' would be set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

The Cabinet Committee also gave its nod for formulating appropriate legal framework for regulating marine fishing operations in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (IEZ) by all classes of vessels.