India is aiming to maximise its net revenue from fisheries through ‘value conservation, value capture, and value creation,’ a senior official said on Monday in Kochi.
After inaugurating a global symposium on sustainable and resilient fisheries here, Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary of India’s Department of Fisheries, stated, “This would not only improve the sector’s finances, but will also contribute to its ecological sustainability. Additionally, the government is dedicated to maintaining a balance between enhancing fishing performance and minimising its negative effects. The primary focus of policies and laws is low-impact fishing. “The pressure on fish supplies in near-shore areas has prompted us to consider improving the situation by investigating high-seas resources.”
In addition, the top fisheries official stated that appropriate technologies are essential for the sustainability of the country’s marine fisheries sector, and that improved gear management practises would help protect and advance the interests of the small-scale fisheries sector, reduce by-catch, manage ghost fishing, and mitigate climate change.
The nation is transitioning towards a Blue Economy strategy that emphasises diversifying ocean uses and preserving ecological health. “To achieve this, however, technological and policy advances such as deep-sea fishing, mariculture, sea ranching, and the installation of artificial reefs are required,” he stated.
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On the occasion of the 23rd annual meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)-FAO Joint Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour, the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO), the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and national fisheries institutions are hosting a symposium (ICES-FAO WGFTFB).
There are approximately 250 participants from 30 nations at the event.