The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India (GoI) has taken several initiatives to ensure sustainable fisheries practices in India’s EEZ including in the Bay of Bengal region.  This includes the implementation of a uniform fishing ban 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) to protect the breeding stock. Similar fishing bans are implemented within the territorial waters by Coastal States/Union Territories including in the Bay of Bengal region. During the fishing ban period, financial assistance is provided by the Government towards livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward, active traditional fishers.  

The DoF, GoI has notified the ‘National Policy on Marine Fisheries (NPMF), 2017’ towards responsible and sustainable fishing across the country including the Bay of Bengal region.   The DoF, GoI has also issued orders to prohibit destructive fishing practices like bull or pair trawling and the 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. Further, necessary provisions are made by the State Government in their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts Rules (Amendments) for the installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) for the protection of sea turtles.  Besides, the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented by the Department inter alia envisages support towards the installation of artificial reefs along the coast, sea ranching, and mariculture including seaweed cultivation, all of which add to the sustainability. In addition, India as a member of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP)-IGO has been actively taking various initiatives in cooperation with other member countries for sustainable fisheries practices like the adoption of the National Plan of Action for Sharks, Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) and Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project.

The NPMF, 2017 inter alia emphasizes that Information Technology (IT) and Space Technology (ST) will be put to optimum use for harnessing the benefits in support of the fisher community and also recommends the use of space technologies for real-time Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories; and weather forecasts for the benefit of fishers. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Hyderabad has reported that Oceansat Satellite data from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) are used to prepare the Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories indicating the potential fishing areas and provided to the fishermen in all States/UTs.  Besides, the PMMSY inter alia envisages support towards the installation of transponders in fishing vessels, providing safety kits to traditional fishermen and motorized fishing vessels, support for Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) devices & network including the cost of installation, construction of deep sea fishing vessels aiming at exploring untapped resources and upgradation of fishing vessels for export competency. Under the PMMSY emphasis is also given to technology-driven more crop-per-drop initiatives in aquaculture like fish culture through Re-Circulatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), biofloc aquaculture systems, cage culture in reservoirs, open sea cage culture, seaweed cultivation, bivalve cultivation including pearl farming and ornamental fisheries.

Currently there are no such projects proposed to be implemented to improve livestock health and breeding practices in member countries. However, as per the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, germplasm from indigenous breeds, Murrah buffalo and Sahiwal cattle has been shared with member countries mainly Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the form of semen doses, embryos, and live animals.       

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 1^st April, 2025.

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