Prologue

syllabus of UPSC Mains (GS)

topics in this article

(GS1) Distribution of key natural resources

across the world and India

just a brief table on

EEZ

(GS2) Government policies and

interventions for development in various
sectors

Comprehensive
Marine Fishing
Policy, 2004

(GS2) Welfare schemes for vulnerable

sections of the population

Fishermen Welfare
Scheme

(GS3) Food processing and related

industries in India-scope and significance,
location, upstream and downstream
requirements, supply chain management.

Related to
freshwater, saltwater
and shrimps.

later: well see [Food processing] Poultry, meat, tea, coffee, wine,
edible oil.

Fisheries: Scope/significance
Ranking

GDP contribution

Export (2011-12
data)

India is the second largest producer of

fish in the world

~5% within GDP from agri-allied sector.

~0.8% within total GDP.

Indian Fish export >$3500 million dollar

Indian meat export ~$3000 million

dollar
still, Indias share in world export Is
barely 0.1% (for each fish and meat
individually)

3000 fishermen villages

Gives employment
to more than

8 lakh fishermen families

40 lakh fishermen
Top 5 fish producers

Top-5 Countries (2009 data)

Top-5 States (2012 data)

1. China

1. Andhra Pradesh

2. India

2. West Bengal

3. Peru

3. Gujarat

4. Indonesia

4. Kerala

5. Vietnam

5. Tamil Nadu

Some stupid numbers from economic survey

Export (2011-12 export (approx.
data)
Million dollar)

Indias share in world

trade (approx.)

Fish

3400

3%

Meat

2700

2%

Geographical advantage:
Coast Line

more than 8100 kms

Continental Shelf

~half million sq.km

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

more than 2 million sq.km

+millions of hectares of ponds, tanks, rivers, reservoirs, canals,

brackish water area.

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

The EEZ of India can be further divided into the following regions:

WEST COAST=42%
OF EEZ

EAST COAST=28%
OF EEZ

North
West

Gujarat & Maharashtra

South
West

Goa, Karnataka & Kerala

Lower
East

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh &

Pondicherry

Upper
East

Orissa & West Bengal

Remaining EEZ area under Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

Andaman- Nicobar

Lakshadweep

6 lakhs sq km EEZ

4 lakh sq km EEZ

There is immense potential for import of fish into India from

neighboring countries in South Asia and South East Asia.
Indian fisheries sector classification

1. Marine
A. Deep Sea Fishing
B. Coastal Fishing
2. Inland (Freshwater)
3. Aquaculture

Supply chain: Fisheries

click to enlarge Supply Chain of Fish

Among all Desi food processing industries, Fish processing
supply chain = shortest. Because in most of the cases,
fishermen themselves sell their catch directly to consumers via
local wet fish markets.
Alternate channels for distribution: Fishermen=> commission
agents=> Fish market.

Saltwater@Upstream
1. Arabian sea=broader continental shelf=fish production higher
than Eastern coast.
2. Despite government ban, fisherman use fine-sized net= even
Juvenile fish are being caught.

3. 30% to 40% of the catch is discarded by fishermen in high seas

because juvenile fish who dont fetch good prices in market=
resource lost.
4. During breeding season, fishing is banned in coastal waters. But
the authorities dont enforce it strictly.
5. Lack of surveillance of territorial waters= even outsiders
(Pakistani fishermen) do illegal fishing in our area.
6. The EEZ around Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep
confluences with international waters. This makes these Island
territories vulnerable to illegal Fishing by foreign vessels.
7. Most fishing vessels dont have facility to freeze the fish onboard
immediately after catching= quality deterioration before they
reach the coast.
8. unregulated fishing of highly migratory species just outside the
EEZ=negative impact on Marine biodiversity.
9. Most vessel dont have special equipment to do deep water
fishing beyond depth of 400m. Example yellow fin tuna found
around Lakshadweep islands. Theyre almost unexploited since
the technology for deep long lining is not prevalent in the
Islands.

Freshwater@Upstream
For inland fisheries, two big players= WB+Andhra.
But even those state governments not enforcing fishing net size
in rivers, lakes and reservoirs= juvenile fish caught and
discarded.
Fishing ban during breeding season not strictly enforced.

Aquaculture@upstream
EMPIRES

National Fisheries Development Board vs.

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying

and Fisheries.
Their jurisdictions/responsibilities are still
not clearly defined
Result: overlapping, lack of synergy.
Freshwater aquaculture, contributed to the
Blue Revolution in the country in late
1970s. But not it is now almost stagnating
in terms of yield rates.

MNREGA

Fish production can be enhanced 2 to 4

times by creating more rainfed water bodies
via MNREGA labour. But this potential is
largely ignored.

Fish feed not available at reasonable

prices.
AQUACULTUR
E

Most farmers are small/marginal, dont

know best practices in cultivation, postharvest management for fish farming.
waste disposal done in hygienic manner=
environmental implications

Shrimp-farming@Upstream
Nellor District, AP= Shrimp Capital of India.
Pink revolution=Shrimp.
PARENTS

Disease free brooder stock (parent shrimps)=

not available. Hence their next generation is

also diseased.
If you import the brooder stock=there are no
regulation/quality checks =infected stock=>the
shrimps thus grown have variety of
disease=rejected in US/EU for export.
For aquaculture/shrimp culture, you need to
get approval from State fisheries Department.
But Often, the state departments take 3-6
months to scrutinize documents= project
implementation delayed.

Imported feed or antibiotics=>high custom

duty=expensive.
ANTIBIOTIC
S

Therefore lot of Chinese/counterfeit/spurious

products in market.
Farmer unknowingly uses such input=
antibiotic traces found in Indian
shrimps=>theyre rejected in US/EU market.

feed cost accounts for 50% of the total cost

FEED COST

TRAINING

Government investment in research for low

cost feed and technology required.

Need to educate farmers on modern

techniques of shrimp farming so they can
enhance the quality and body weight of
shrimps.
but there is shortage of extension staff for
fisheries in state departments.

@Processing
NOTABLE
PLAYERS

Adani Exports, Hindustan Lever Ltd, Ruchi

Worldwide, Vishal Exports, Aditya
Enterprises ,Liberty, Falcon Marine.

Potable water is not available at landing and

cleaning sheds at the ports.
WATER
QUALITY

PACKAGING

EU specifies more than 50 parameters of

water, If traces of these chemicals are
detected= product rejected. (and as you can
guess, our exports are often rejected.)

Need Focused research to develop low-cost

packaging for seafood products, both for the
export + domestic market.

Even for exports, our fish-processing is

primary/basic level
LOW VALUE
ADDITION

We merely freeze/mince the fishes/shrimps

and export them to China/Thailand/Japan.
They do more value-addition and create
variety of ready-to-eat fish food (e.g. sushi
shrimps) =>export to US/EU @higher prices.

INVESTMENT

To comply with US/EU/HACCP regulation,

we need huge capital investments to
upgrade our processing units.

@Downstream

More than 1/3rd of Indians eat fish but demand for processed
fish=limited because
Indian consumer prefer wet (fresh) fish rather than processed
fish.
Cost of processed fish product= 20-25% higher than fresh fish.
(due to indirect taxes)
Desi Consumers prefer to buy fresh fish from wet markets and
process it at home
Therefore, Indian fish processing segment=entirely exportoriented, due to lack of local/domestic demand

INFLATION

Fish prices more than doubled during the

Eleventh Plan, a higher inflation than either
crops or any other livestock segment.
This is negatively affecting business and
demand.

There is inadequate awareness about

nutritional benefits of fish.
MARKETING

RETAILERS

Need marketing campaign to increase desidemand- showing hygienic, healthy,

consistent quality of branded, packaged fish
products over the unhygienic macchimarket.

Large number of retailers are unable to sell

processed fish products because they dont
have due to cooling storage facilities +
electricity problems.

MARKETING
RESEARCH

We dont export Ready to eat marine

products in significant volumes, because we
are not aware of varied tastes and cuisines
in different regions of the world
need investment in marketing research in
foreign consumers food preferences.

DUMPING

US Department of Commerce has imposed

an anti-dumping duty on Indian Shrimp.
more on dumping, already discussed click
me

REJECTIONS

US/EU/foreign countries often reject our

fish/shrimp cargos for traces of antibiotics,
heavy-metals, foul smell.

Government Policies/Schemes
Jurisdiction:
States

Marine fisheries within the territorial waters are the subject

of maritime states

Centr
e

Fisheries beyond this limit within the EEZ fall in the

jurisdiction of Central Government.

Comprehensive Marine Fishing Policy, 2004

By Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of
Agriculture
Three main objectives: 1) boost export 2)socio-economic welfare of
fishermen 3) protect marine ecology/biodiversity
ACTIVITY

policy will address following:

1. SUBSISTENCE
FISHING

protection + welfare

1 SMALL-SCALE
FISHING

technology transfer to small scale

sector

work out strategy for fishing in

Antarctic waters by Indian owned
vessels
1 INDUSTRIAL
FISHING

infrastructure support, Joint

Venture for fish processing and
export
PPP: Build-Operate-Own and
Build- Operate-Transfer systems.

Salient Features of this policy

1. ATTENTION TO CONSUMERS
o increase per capita (fish) protein intake
o Attention to consumer rights. Ensuring food safety,
mandatory bar coding and packaging for sale of fish
products.
o Ensure international quality and food safety in fish and
fishery products.
o Ensure Hygiene in fishing harbor and processing centers.
o Protect consumers from fish contaminated with heavy
metals and other hazardous chemicals discharged from
industrial establishments.

o eco labeling of marine products

2. ATTENTION TO FISHERMEN
o Each fisherman household would be given a card for easy
identification.
o Strengthen Cooperative movement of fishermen
o Uniformity in central-state welfare schemes for fisherman.
o Greater participation of cooperatives, NGOs and local selfGovernments
o Government to contribute towards Insurance scheme for
only those fishermen who do not own a boat.
o Fishermen Housing Schemes will unified and implemented
as a master plan through a national agency.
3. ATTENTION TO ENVIRONMENT
o responsible and sustainable fishing practices to Preserve
environment and biodiversity
o Strict ban on all types of destructive methods of fishing.
o Regulate Mesh sizes in different parts of the fishing gear.
Penalties for violations of mesh regulations.
o Prohibit Catching of juveniles and non- targeted
species=prohibited
o greater liaison between Central and State Pollution Control
Board to control all industrial establishments discharging
effluents in to the sea
o Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in
effluent discharge systems will be made mandatory.
o Mangrove plantation in Coastal areas.
4. ATTENTION TO FANCY THINGS:

o HRD, R&D, use of IT, strengthening marine database via

satellites etc.

National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)

HQ: Hyderabad. For both inland and marine fish. Promotes following
1. Accelerated development of the fisheries and aquaculture in
a sustainable manner
2. Hygienic development of wholesale and retail markets
3. Mariculture (cultivation of marine organized in enclosed section
of ocean / pond / tank etc. Example: prawn, pearls, agar etc)
4. Training to fishermen/fish farmers

Government Schemes

National Mission for

Protein Supplement
(NMPS)

Development of Inland
fisheries & Aquaculture

Development of Marine
Fisheries, Infrastructure
Post Harvest Operations.

Component of Rashtriya Krishi

Vikas Yojana.
to promote production of animal
based protein through livestock
development, dairy farming, pig
and goat rearing and fisheries

fish farmers were provided

assistance for freshwater
aquaculture. ~30000 already
benefitted under 11th FYP.

development of 13 fishing harbors

and 4 fish landing centres, 4
fishing harbors were repaired and
renovated. (11th FYP)
safety appliances provided

Strengthening of
Database & Geographic
Information System for
Fisheries Sector.

Under the scheme, inland water

bodies are surveyed and mapped
in the States.
Work already finished in W.Bengal.

Fishermen Welfare Scheme

In the 90s, there were multiple schemes for fishermen welfare but in
mid-2000s, all of them combined into single Centrally Sponsored
National Scheme on Welfare of Fishermen (duh, no catchy
name/abbreviation, not named after you know who. but then again,
scheme falls under Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying=
under Sharad Pawar=not directly underyou know whos party.)
anyways, this scheme has:
Two pronged approach

PROTECTIVE

To prevent any short term decline in the

standard of living. (via insurance + savings)

PROMOTIONA
L

To enhance the long term general living

standard of the entire community. (via model
village + training)
four broad components

1. MODEL
FISHERMEN
VILLAGES

fishermen (both inland and marine)

will be given basic civic amenities
like houses, drinking water, tube-well
and commonplace for recreation and
work.
for housing- Preference will be given
to fishermen below poverty line and

to landless fishermen.

Group Accident Insurance for Active

Fishermen.
1 INSURANCE

Rs 50,000/- against death or

permanent total disability and Rs
25,000/- for partial permanent
disability.
50:50 cost sharing by Center:state

1 SAVINGS CUM
RELIEF

during the fishing season (8 month),

fisherman will give Rs.600, +
government will contribute another
Rs. 600. (total 1200)= this plus bankinterest will be given to fisherman
during lean season (remaining 4
months of the year)

self explanatory
1 TRAINING

to update knowledge and improving

skills of fishers in regard to modern
fishing technology.
Misc.

CIBA
IMMUNoDot
Silver
pompano

An immunodot blot test for early detection of WSS

virus in shrimp. Patent pending.
Successful breeding experiments carried out.
can be done in ponds, tanks and floating sea

cages.
price of pompano is about Rs.200/-per kg, The
species is able to acclimatize and grow well in
the vast low saline and brackish waters of our
country.

International Support
Several international organizations, including the World Bank,
UNDP , DANIDA, NORAD, ODA (UK and Japan) provide aid to
India for the development of fisheries sector .
(UK) has provided technical aid for the prevention of postharvest losses in marine fisheries. Recently, FAO launched a
scheme for providing technical assistance to implement Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) in seafood processing
industries.

State governments
They need to do following:
1. Enforce fishing holidays during breeding season.
2. Awareness camps to educate the fishermen on importance of
the breeding cycle of the fish to replenish the stock.
3. Regulate fishing net size. 30 mm mesh size should be
standardized for use.
4. Announce specific financing schemes for purchase of requisite
vessels and equipment
5. Allow only a sustainable number of vessels to operate in the
coastal waters. Dont give license to everyone.
6. Leasing of coastal zones There is need to consider leasing of
coastal zones on a long term basis (30 years) to private sector
players, for introduction of advanced mariculture technologies

such as cage culture, pen culture etc. for augmenting fish

production.

Mock Questions
MCQs
1. Correct Statement about EEZ of India
a. Eastern Cost has larger area under EEZ than Western
Cost
b. Among Union Territories, Lakshadweep is surrounded by
the maximum EEZ area.
c. Both
d. None
2. Correct statements about yellow fin tuna
a. Found in the shallow coastal waters around Lakshadweep
b. It is on verge of becoming extinct, because of destructive
fishing in this region.
c. Both
d. None
Descriptive
2m
1. Obstacles to Pink Revolution in India
2. MODEL FISHERMEN VILLAGES
3. National Mission for Protein Supplement (NMPS)
4. National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)
12m

1. Issues affecting supply chain of marine fisheries.

2. Write a note on Centrally Sponsored National Scheme on
Welfare of Fishermen.
3. Enumerate the salient features of the Comprehensive
Marine Fishing Policy.
4. Define Aquaculture and Mariculture. Discuss their
significance in rural development in coastal areas.
25m
1. Although India is the second largest fish producer of the
world, the share of fisheries sector in Indias GDP is
negligible. Examine the reasons for this phenomenon and
suggest remedies.
Essay
1. Civilization is like a thin layer of ice upon a deep ocean of
chaos and darkness.
2. India is rich in people, rich in culture, rich in resources and
rich in trouble.