642
However, a suitable legal and institutional
mechanism is needed to meaningfully address
these challenges in order to produce adequate and
cheap food fi sh for all and improve the quality of
life of fi shers and farmers and fi sh eaters. A comprehensive and enabling fi sheries and aquaculture policy is a necessary prerequisite to provide
overall direction, develop appropriate strategies,
support implementation of development programmes and mobilise resources for the fullfl edged growth and development of fi sheries
sector. In the changing scenario of globalisation
and increasing market integration, a dynamic
policy is vital to steer the fi sheries sector through
the higher growth trajectory by tapping the new
opportunities and tackling the impending challenges. The overall objective of the fi sheries and
aquaculture policy shall be to increase fi sh production on a sustainable basis to ensure supply of fi sh
as a nutritional requirement, livelihood security of
the people and development of the economy.
Under this broad background, the specifi c
objectives of Fisheries Policy could be as follows:
(a) To promote development and management of
all fi sheries and aquaculture resources to
become a surplus region in food fi sh and seed
fi sh production. This could be done in an
ecologically sound, economically viable and
socioculturally compatible manner.
(b) To provide adequate, sustainable and equitable livelihood to fi shers and fi sh farmers and
to ensure availability of cheap and quality
fi sh for all.
(c) To generate entrepreneurial and employment
opportunities and facilitate creation of necessary infrastructure facilities through public–
private investment and industry–institution
partnership in fi sheries and aquaculture sector.
(d) To conserve and manage the fi sheries
resources and fi sh biodiversity for its sustainable utilisation mainly for the posterity.
(e) To create wider social awareness about importance of fi sheries and aquaculture and promote consumption of fi sh as wholesome food.
(f) To transform the Directorate of Fisheries in
different regions into a professional agency
for providing extension services to fi shers,
farmers and entrepreneurs following a
people- centred approach to development.
30.2 Data Gathering for Planning
and Development
Timely, complete and reliable statistics on
potential resources, status of utilisation, resourcewise and species-wise production and productivity levels, catch and fi shing effort, different
socio- economic parameters and market information area essential for formulation of relevant
policies, programmes and action plans.
At present, an established and full proof
system for systematic and regular collection of
data on fi sheries is largely lacking. Crude estimations and approximations with wide margins of
error, sometimes, form the basis of development
planning and management.
The policy may envisage institutionalisation
of a mechanism for systematic collection, verifi -
cation and updating of timely, complete and
reliable statistics on various physical, biological,
economic and social parameters of fi sheries
sector as per the nationally and internationally
agreed format. Involvement of various stakeholders, particularly the producer groups, is strongly
encouraged in both collection and verifi cation of
various statistical data. Measures are to be initiated for proper categorisation, analysis and wider
dissemination of data, thus, generated, particularly, at the grass-root level. There is also a need
for maintaining a computerised database for easy
retrieval of data. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) mechanism
may be applied for survey of various resources
especially the open waterbodies to be followed
by ground truth exercises.
Concomitant to above, let us briefl y look into
the development of aquaculture in various types
of waterbodies.
30.3 Development of Aquaculture
in Ponds
Lentic bodies, whose water spread area is
<10 ha in size, could be classifi ed as ponds. As
an example, in Bihar (India), ponds account for
a total area of about 65,000 ha. Out of this,
about 22,000 ha are individual ponds of
30 Developmental Activities in Wetlands
However, a suitable legal and institutional
mechanism is needed to meaningfully address
these challenges in order to produce adequate and
cheap food fi sh for all and improve the quality of
life of fi shers and farmers and fi sh eaters. A comprehensive and enabling fi sheries and aquaculture policy is a necessary prerequisite to provide
overall direction, develop appropriate strategies,
support implementation of development programmes and mobilise resources for the fullfl edged growth and development of fi sheries
sector. In the changing scenario of globalisation
and increasing market integration, a dynamic
policy is vital to steer the fi sheries sector through
the higher growth trajectory by tapping the new
opportunities and tackling the impending challenges. The overall objective of the fi sheries and
aquaculture policy shall be to increase fi sh production on a sustainable basis to ensure supply of fi sh
as a nutritional requirement, livelihood security of
the people and development of the economy.
Under this broad background, the specifi c
objectives of Fisheries Policy could be as follows:
(a) To promote development and management of
all fi sheries and aquaculture resources to
become a surplus region in food fi sh and seed
fi sh production. This could be done in an
ecologically sound, economically viable and
socioculturally compatible manner.
(b) To provide adequate, sustainable and equitable livelihood to fi shers and fi sh farmers and
to ensure availability of cheap and quality
fi sh for all.
(c) To generate entrepreneurial and employment
opportunities and facilitate creation of necessary infrastructure facilities through public–
private investment and industry–institution
partnership in fi sheries and aquaculture sector.
(d) To conserve and manage the fi sheries
resources and fi sh biodiversity for its sustainable utilisation mainly for the posterity.
(e) To create wider social awareness about importance of fi sheries and aquaculture and promote consumption of fi sh as wholesome food.
(f) To transform the Directorate of Fisheries in
different regions into a professional agency
for providing extension services to fi shers,
farmers and entrepreneurs following a
people- centred approach to development.
30.2 Data Gathering for Planning
and Development
Timely, complete and reliable statistics on
potential resources, status of utilisation, resourcewise and species-wise production and productivity levels, catch and fi shing effort, different
socio- economic parameters and market information area essential for formulation of relevant
policies, programmes and action plans.
At present, an established and full proof
system for systematic and regular collection of
data on fi sheries is largely lacking. Crude estimations and approximations with wide margins of
error, sometimes, form the basis of development
planning and management.
The policy may envisage institutionalisation
of a mechanism for systematic collection, verifi -
cation and updating of timely, complete and
reliable statistics on various physical, biological,
economic and social parameters of fi sheries
sector as per the nationally and internationally
agreed format. Involvement of various stakeholders, particularly the producer groups, is strongly
encouraged in both collection and verifi cation of
various statistical data. Measures are to be initiated for proper categorisation, analysis and wider
dissemination of data, thus, generated, particularly, at the grass-root level. There is also a need
for maintaining a computerised database for easy
retrieval of data. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) mechanism
may be applied for survey of various resources
especially the open waterbodies to be followed
by ground truth exercises.
Concomitant to above, let us briefl y look into
the development of aquaculture in various types
of waterbodies.
30.3 Development of Aquaculture
in Ponds
Lentic bodies, whose water spread area is
<10 ha in size, could be classifi ed as ponds. As
an example, in Bihar (India), ponds account for
a total area of about 65,000 ha. Out of this,
about 22,000 ha are individual ponds of
30 Developmental Activities in Wetlands