With around four million people — mainly small-scale and artisanal fishers — in India depending on marine fisheries resources for livelihood, the Government will provide them financial assistance and introduce norms to improve labour conditions in the sector.
However, it will ensure that the Indian fishing fleet does not engage in ‘Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated’ (IUU) fishing, according to the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017.
The Indian marine fisheries account for an economic wealth of about ₹65,000 crore, according to the policy — meant to guide the coordination and management of India’s marine fisheries during the next ten years. It noted that fishermen are having difficulties in availing institutional credit to buy fishing implements and crafts, and that the risky nature of returns has led to many fishermen falling into the debt trap of private financiers and middlemen.
Therefore, the Government —with the help of National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development — will provide financial assistance to fishermen with liberal terms and conditions.
In addition, the Government will introduce new schemes to skill traditional fishermen.
