The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has put forth a comprehensive set of recommendations to the central government for regulating fishing activities beyond the territorial waters of India. The recommendations are based on a detailed study of the socio-economic and ecological aspects of marine fisheries in the country.
Background
India has a vast marine wealth with an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million km2 and a continental shelf area of nearly 0.5 million km2. The marine fisheries sector contributes significantly to the national economy, food security and livelihoods of millions of people. However, the sector faces several challenges such as overfishing, depletion of fish stocks, conflicts among fishers, environmental degradation and climate change.
According to CMFRI, India’s marine fish production reached 3.56 million tonnes in 2019, with a contribution of 1.08 million tonnes from the EEZ. However, the annual potential yield from the EEZ is estimated at 4.41 million tonnes, indicating a scope for further development. The EEZ is also rich in biodiversity, with more than 3,000 species of marine organisms recorded.
Need for regulation
According to CMFRI, there is an urgent need for a central legislation to regulate fishing beyond the territorial waters, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from the coast. Beyond this limit, fishing is governed by the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981, which does not address the issues of domestic fishers or the conservation of marine resources.
CMFRI argues that a central legislation would help in harmonizing the existing state-level laws, which vary widely in terms of fishing zones, seasons, gears and vessels. It would also enable effective monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities in the EEZ, which is currently lacking. Moreover, it would facilitate the implementation of international agreements and conventions that India is a party to, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director of CMFRI, said that “a central legislation is essential to ensure sustainable and responsible fishing in the EEZ, which is a common property resource for all Indians”. He added that “such a legislation would also protect the rights and interests of the traditional and small-scale fishers who depend on marine resources for their livelihoods”.
Recommendations
Some of the key recommendations made by CMFRI are:
- To define the fishing zones for different categories of fishing vessels based on their size, engine power and gear type.
- To impose a uniform ban on fishing by all fishing vessels in the EEZ beyond territorial waters during certain periods of the year for conservation and sea safety reasons.
- To prohibit destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling, dynamite fishing and use of fine mesh nets.
- To promote responsible fishing practices such as selective fishing, bycatch reduction and discards management.
- To establish a national registry of fishing vessels and fishers with unique identification numbers and biometric cards.
- To enhance data collection and reporting systems for catch, effort, landing and socio-economic parameters.
- To strengthen institutional mechanisms for coordination, consultation and cooperation among various stakeholders at different levels.
- To create awareness and capacity building programs for fishers, managers and policy makers on sustainable fisheries management.
Conclusion
CMFRI hopes that its recommendations will be considered by the central government and enacted into a law at the earliest. It believes that such a law will not only benefit the marine fisheries sector but also safeguard the national interests and sovereignty of India in its maritime domain.