Transforming Fisheries Sector

• 16 Sep 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying unveiled a series of initiatives to transform the fisheries sector and strengthen India’s blue economy at the 4th Anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY).

What Important Initiatives Have Been Launched?

• National Fisheries Development Program (NFDP) Portal: It serves as a central hub for the registration of fisheries stakeholders, providing access to information, services, and support related to the sector.
• PM-MKSSY Guidelines: Operational guidelines for PM-Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) were launched to provide a structured approach to the scheme's implementation.
• Rangeen Machhli App: It is designed to meet the growing needs of the ornamental fisheries sector by providing crucial knowledge resources for hobbyists, aquarium shop owners, and fish farmers.
• Amrit Catla: It is a genetically improved variety of Catla fish (Labeo catla) to ensure its wider distribution and availability for farmers across the country. 
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): It focuses on three specialised clusters for Pearl cultivation, Ornamental fisheries, and Seaweed cultivation.
• Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFVs): Guidelines for developing 100 coastal villages into CRCFVs were released.
• Pilot Project on Drone Technology: Use of drones for fish transportation and monitoring inland fisheries to improve efficiency and sustainability.
• Centres of Excellence: Mandapam Regional Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) as a Centre of Excellence for promoting seaweed farming and research.
• Nucleus Breeding Centres (NBCs): For enhancing seed quality through genetic enhancement of economically important marine and inland species.
• Integrated Aqua Parks: Five parks in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, and Nagaland.

What is PM-Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)?

• About: It is a Central Sector Sub-scheme that falls under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
  • It aims to formalise the fisheries sector, provide support to micro and small enterprises, and boost the overall fisheries value chain.
• Major Components: 
  • Formalization of the Fisheries Sector: NFDP to provide work-based digital identities for 40 lakh small and micro-enterprises.
  • Support for Microenterprises: Financial assistance to 6.4 lakh micro-enterprises and 5,500 fisheries cooperatives.
  • Insurance Coverage for Aquaculture: Incentive upto Rs 25,000 per hectare for farm sizes of up to 4 hectares.
  • Improving Fisheries Sector Value-Chain Efficiency: Performance grants upto 25% of total investment or Rs 35 lakh for General Category and 35% or Rs 45 lakh for SCs, STs, and women-owned enterprises.
  • Adoption of Safety and Quality Assurance Systems: Incentivizing small enterprises to adopt safety and quality assurance systems.
• Investment: It is supported by an investment of Rs 6,000 crore over a four-year period (FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27) across all Indian states and Union Territories.
• Intended Beneficiaries:
  • Direct Beneficiaries: Fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, and fish vendors involved in the fisheries value chain.
  • Micro & Small Enterprises: Proprietary firms, partnerships, companies, cooperatives, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and startups engaged in the fisheries sector.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Which one of the following is a filter feeder? (2021)

(a) Catfish 

(b) Octopus

(c) Oyster 

(d) Pelican

Ans: (c)

Q. Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? (2020)

1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks
3. Consumption requirements of farm households
4. Post-harvest expenses
5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: (b)