641
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_30, © Springer India 2013
Development and management of fi sheries and
aquaculture resources are aimed at providing
sustainable livelihoods to rural poor communities
and overall economic growth of the state with due
considerations to environmental well-being, gender
concerns, socio-economic and cultural aspirations
of the people and with special attention to fi shers
and fi sh farmers (Alison and Badjeck 2004 ).
A knowledge-driven development organisation with dynamic, motivated and professional
human resources delivers quality extension
services, co-manages resources with stakeholders
and guides sustainable and equitable development
and is modern, accessible and accountable (Kar
2007a , b ).
30.1 Need and Rationale for
Wetland and Fisheries
Developments
30.1.1 Need and Rationale
for Fisheries Policy
The economy of the globe, particularly of the
developing nations, is dependent, to a very big
extent, on agriculture, animal husbandry and
fi sheries. Fisheries and aquaculture sectors play a
key role in food security and employment generation for signifi cant proportion of the global
population who depend upon fi sheries, aquaculture and allied activities for their livelihood
sustenance and income. Besides, the sector also
generates precious revenue for the country. The
importance of fi sheries sector to the economy of
a country and its provinces are related to various
intrinsic and extrinsic factors, like population and
its feeding habit, rainfall and policies of the
government. Riverine fertile fl oodplains, hilly
uplands, fl ood and drought situations, etc., are
some of the characteristic features of the world
geography (Kar 1996 , 2000 , 2003 ; Kar et al. 2003 ;
NEC 1991 ). Consequently, there is a need and
rationale for a pragmatic Fisheries Policy as a
prerequisite for wetlands and fi sheries developments through sustained use.
The earth, on one hand, may still have much
amount of underutilised and untapped fi sheries
resources which offer immense potential for fi sh
production and scope for the development of rural
livelihoods. On the other hand, many parts of the
world, even today, depend on other parts of the
world for supply of its demand of fi sh. General
low average productivity in the culture- based fi sheries ecosystems, poor socio-economic condition
of fi shers and fi sh farmers, lack of adequate public
and private investment and capital fl ow into fi sheries sector, lack of awareness about aquaculture
as a viable and profi table economic activity, nonavailability of adequate and professionally skilled
human resource, ineffective and redundant services delivery systems, poor infrastructure facilities, etc., are some of the limitations for dwindled
growth and development of fi sheries sector. Thus,
there is an urgent need to bridge the gap between
demand and supply of food fi sh and fi sh seed by
effective and sustainable utilisation of available
resources (Dey 1981 ; Kar 2007a ).
30
Developmental Activities
in Wetlands
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_30, © Springer India 2013
Development and management of fi sheries and
aquaculture resources are aimed at providing
sustainable livelihoods to rural poor communities
and overall economic growth of the state with due
considerations to environmental well-being, gender
concerns, socio-economic and cultural aspirations
of the people and with special attention to fi shers
and fi sh farmers (Alison and Badjeck 2004 ).
A knowledge-driven development organisation with dynamic, motivated and professional
human resources delivers quality extension
services, co-manages resources with stakeholders
and guides sustainable and equitable development
and is modern, accessible and accountable (Kar
2007a , b ).
30.1 Need and Rationale for
Wetland and Fisheries
Developments
30.1.1 Need and Rationale
for Fisheries Policy
The economy of the globe, particularly of the
developing nations, is dependent, to a very big
extent, on agriculture, animal husbandry and
fi sheries. Fisheries and aquaculture sectors play a
key role in food security and employment generation for signifi cant proportion of the global
population who depend upon fi sheries, aquaculture and allied activities for their livelihood
sustenance and income. Besides, the sector also
generates precious revenue for the country. The
importance of fi sheries sector to the economy of
a country and its provinces are related to various
intrinsic and extrinsic factors, like population and
its feeding habit, rainfall and policies of the
government. Riverine fertile fl oodplains, hilly
uplands, fl ood and drought situations, etc., are
some of the characteristic features of the world
geography (Kar 1996 , 2000 , 2003 ; Kar et al. 2003 ;
NEC 1991 ). Consequently, there is a need and
rationale for a pragmatic Fisheries Policy as a
prerequisite for wetlands and fi sheries developments through sustained use.
The earth, on one hand, may still have much
amount of underutilised and untapped fi sheries
resources which offer immense potential for fi sh
production and scope for the development of rural
livelihoods. On the other hand, many parts of the
world, even today, depend on other parts of the
world for supply of its demand of fi sh. General
low average productivity in the culture- based fi sheries ecosystems, poor socio-economic condition
of fi shers and fi sh farmers, lack of adequate public
and private investment and capital fl ow into fi sheries sector, lack of awareness about aquaculture
as a viable and profi table economic activity, nonavailability of adequate and professionally skilled
human resource, ineffective and redundant services delivery systems, poor infrastructure facilities, etc., are some of the limitations for dwindled
growth and development of fi sheries sector. Thus,
there is an urgent need to bridge the gap between
demand and supply of food fi sh and fi sh seed by
effective and sustainable utilisation of available
resources (Dey 1981 ; Kar 2007a ).
30
Developmental Activities
in Wetlands