|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Govt strengthens marine fisheries conservation & sustainability measures
|
|
Saturday, 14 February, 2026, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, New Delhi
|
The Government of India continues to prioritise sustainable marine fisheries management with a series of regulatory and conservation initiatives aimed at protecting fish stocks, promoting responsible fishing practices and supporting traditional fishing communities. The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, shared key updates in the Rajya Sabha highlighting national efforts to safeguard marine ecosystems.
Advisories from the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have played a central role in guiding states and Union Territories on scientific management measures. Based on periodic stock assessments — most recently detailed in the Marine Fish Stock Status (MFSS) Report, 2022 — approximately 91.1% of India’s marine fish stocks are currently in a healthy condition.
To protect juvenile fish and allow species to reach maturity, the CMFRI has recommended minimum legal sizes (MLS) for commercially important species such as pomfret. Several states including Kerala and Maharashtra have already incorporated these MLS norms within their Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs) to curb juvenile fishing and support sustainable harvests.
In addition, specific coastal zones have been designated for traditional, non-mechanised and small motorised fishing vessels to protect livelihoods and reduce ecological pressure. Some states have also prohibited mechanised fishing in designated traditional zones to foster equitable access for artisanal fishers.
National regulations further prohibit destructive fishing methods — including bull/pair trawling and the use of LED lights in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — measures that are crucial to maintaining marine biodiversity and fishery resources.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the government provides financial assistance to socio-economically disadvantaged traditional fisher families during the annual fishing ban period. Beneficiaries receive Rs 3,000 per year (with a Rs 1,500 contribution), released over the three-month ban to support livelihoods when fishing is restricted.
To boost marine resource regeneration, state governments are deploying artificial reefs with PMMSY funding, enhancing habitat complexity and fish stock resilience along coastal areas.
These coordinated policy and regulatory efforts reinforce India’s commitment to balanced fisher welfare and sustainable marine ecosystem management.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|