The Government of India has approved an integrated fishery development and management scheme benefitting 14.5 million fishermen in all the states and the union territories.
The aim of this plan is to start what is called the Blue Revolution, intended to boost annual growth in the fisheries sector to six-eight per cent throughout five years with an investment amounting to INR 30 billion (USD 452.9 million), Business Standard reported.
The scheme would cover development and management of inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries, including deep-sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board.
The scheme has six broad components: National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and its activities; Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture; Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations; Strengthening of Database & Geographical Information System of the Fisheries Sector; Institutional Arrangement for Fisheries Sector and; Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and other need-based interventions.
The components of the scheme would be implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF) with 100 per cent central funding.
Apart from fishermen, the scheme would also benefit other stakeholders such as fish farmers, fisheries entrepreneurs, fish retailers, wholesalers, fish processors, fish exports and women groups amongst others.
Besides the increase in fish production at the primary level, the scheme would also stimulate growth of the subsidiary and allied industries and growth of other related economic activities, especially in the coastal regions, leading to many direct and indirect benefits to the entire fisheries sector.
The fisheries and aquaculture industry generated INR 334.41 billion (USD 5.51 billion) in the financial year 2014-15, when the total production reached 10 million tonnes.
FIS.com, 2015