Chennai 17 October, 2023: Highlighting adverse impacts of climate change in marine fisheries sector, Hon’ble Union Fisheries Minister Mr. Parshottam Rupala has called for collaborative global action to address this challenge. He further said that India is committed to collaborate with the international community in tackling the issues posed by the climate crisis.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the global conclave on mainstreaming climate change into international fisheries governance on Tuesday at Mahabalipuram.
Climate Impacts
“Impact of climate crisis on fisheries is already being felt worldwide and it is expected to become more severe in future. This may impact agriculture and fisheries posing threat to food security, and trigger sea-level rise. It may also cause natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and droughts; accelerate the erosion of coastal zones; quicken species extinction and cause damage to coral reefs”, Mr Rupala said.
The conclave is being organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Government of India, and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), with an aim to develop guidelines for climate resilient fisheries management and formulate strategies for the integration of climate change into international fisheries governance.
The inaugural event was attended by Union Secretary Fisheries, Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, and other Senior Officers from Department of Fisheries, Government of India, 11 Regional Fisheries Bodies around 70 counties, FAO Representatives to India, DDG(Fisheries Sciences) of ICAR Dr J K Jena, scientists and academicians across the country.
Climate-resilient strategies
The Union Minister urged the marine scientists and other experts from 11 regional fisheries bodies in the Indo-Pacific region attending the conclave to come up with effective strategies to tackle adversaries and minimise the climate impact. He stressed the need for developing climate-resilient fisheries management strategies in order to protect the livelihood of the fishermen community and to safeguard the marine ecosystems.
Transformational Changes in India’s marine fisheries
Referring to the initiatives taken to promote the sector amid challenges, the Minister said that the Union Government, in the last 9 years, has ushered in transformational changes and reforms in the areas of fish production and productivity, technology infusion, modernisation of infrastructure, growth of entrepreneurship and employment etc. He also mentioned that the Union Government is setting up a Multipurpose Seaweed Park (integrated aquapark) worth Rs.127 Crores in Tamil Nadu. “Since 2015, focused attention has been given to modernisation and creation of 107 projects of Fishing Harbours & Fish Landing Centres across the coastal states”, the Minister added.
Boost for Seafood Exports
The Minister said that the fisheries sector contributes a good stake in India's economy and provides livelihood for over 2.8 crore fishers and fish farmers at primary level. “Seafood exports have more than doubled in the last nine years, with record exports of ₹63,969 crore (US$8.09 billion) in 2022-23. Shrimp exports have also more than doubled in the last nine years, reaching ₹43,135 crore (US$5.48 billion) in 2022-23.
“Under various schemes, an estimated 61.9 lakh employment and livelihood opportunities have been generated in the last nine years. Support to Fisher Families Approximately 6 lakh fisher families are provided with livelihood and nutritional support annually during the fishing ban and lean period. On an average of 38 lakh fishers per year are insured under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme “GAIS”, the Minister said.
Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary to the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of India delivered the keynote address. India’s initiatives for climate resilient marine fisheries in the area of development, research, coastal vulnerability and policy framework were presented by Neethu Kumar Prasad, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Govt of India, Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr M V Ramanamurthy, Project Director of Deep Ocean Mission and Dr R Ramesh, Former Director of National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management respectively.
Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative to India; Dr Piero Mannini, Senior Laison Officer, FAO, Rome; Dr Darius Campbell, Chair of Regional Fisheries Bodies Secretariats Network; Dr L Narasimha Murthy, Chief Executive of National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB); and Dr P Krishnan, Director of BOBP spoke on the occasion.
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