‘Fisheries’ sector is becoming a subsector of Primary sector with consistently increasing contribution to the state economy. The state government envisages development in fisheries sector with a multi pronged strategy with essential focus on increasing fish production and thereby ensure sustainable development. Development of fisheries through effective value chain and boosting exports, government is committed to invest to create infrastructure, promote welfare of fishermen and set up institutions to build skills.
Growth enabler and employment generator :
Fisheries, occupies an important place in the Socioeconomic development of sunrise Andhra Pradesh State. As one of the vibrant sub-sectors of the Primary Sector, Fisheries is identified as one of the growth engines for achieving Double Digit Growth. It is a significant employment generator and a source of proteinous food and foreign exchange earner for the State. AP ranks 1st in total fish and shrimp production and contributes more than 70% of cultured shrimp produced in the country. AP is the largest shrimp exporter in the country. AP is contributing 1.18% of global and about 21% of national fish production (2014-15).
Fisheries sector is supporting employment to 14.5 lakh persons and contributing significantly to the State’s economy. The state government has initiated plans to make Andhra Pradesh the ‘Aqua Hub’ of the World. The A.P. Fisheries Policy, 2015 envisages 42 lakh tonnes of fish production with GVA of Rs.80,000crore by 2019-20 Sustainable development of Fisheries can only be achieved through improvement of the quality inputs, technical skills and management of human resource in the Sector.
The broad development Vision envisages to:
Promote “Blue Revolution” through a multipronged approach and introduction of alternate species.
Develop a policy framework for allotment of marine areas and large reservoirs for cage culture through fi shermen cooperatives/private participation or by consortium.
Establish SPF Brood Stock Multiplication centres and aquatic quarantine centres for L.vannamei for production and supply of SPF brood stock to hatcheries to supply quality seed.
Examine opportunities for reduction of cost of production of fi sh/shrimp in areas of power, feed and others.
To establish and manage more fi shing harbours and fi sh landing centres at all feasible coastal villages.
Build better skills for women for more productive role in fi sheries sector through Matsya Mithra Groups/ Fisherwomen Cooperative Societies in fi sh marketing and fi sh processing.
Create and enabling policy environment brining about necessary legislations and policy guidelines.
Fish Production :
49 lakh tonnes of fi sh and prawn are produced in the state in 2017-18 (upto December 2017) as against the target of 33.84 lakh tonnes. The Fisheries sector contributes 7.74% to the GVA as per advance estimates of 2017-18. 27.66 lakh tonnes Fish and Prawn production was achieved in the year 2016-17 Production of fi sh /prawn in the state has increased from 17.69 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 27.66 lakh tonnes in 2016- 17 and by upto Dec, 2017 to 27.49 lakh tonnes registering double digit growth rate on year to year basis from 2012- 13 to 2016-17. This became possible because of the entrepreneurship skills of farmers, implementation of better management practices, proactive role of government and timely interventions of the Department.
Registration of Aquaculture:
As per the Government of India Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act and rules 2005, land within a distance of two kilometers from high tide line (HTL) of seas, rivers, creeks, and back waters comes under the purview of Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA). The District Level Committee (DLC) has recommended applications for farms above 2 ha. water spread area, to State Level Committee for further recommendation to CAA for consideration of registrations. As of now, CAA has issued registrations of certifi cates to 25288 ha of 19,300 farmers in 9 coastal districts.
Important schemes and programmes :
Relief to Marine fishermen during ban period Every year, fishing in the marine waters is banned from April 15th to June 14th (61 days) under MFR Act as a conservation of fishery wealth in the sea and also for promoting responsible fisheries. During ban period, the crew members of the mechanized and motorized fishing boats are provided relief @Rs.4000/- to each crew member by Direct Cash Transfer. About 77500 fishermen are covered during 2017-18.
Dissemination of cyclone warning and PFZ information to coastal fishers:
The Department has developed strong communication network and disseminating the cyclone warnings through voice message with the support of M/s Reliance Foundation to all coastal fishers. The Department with the support of INCOIS is also communicating Potential Fishery Zone Information through voice messages and Digital Display Boards in the coastal Districts.
Promotion of Deep Sea Fishing :
The objective of the scheme is to promote deep sea fishing particularly Tuna fishery, which is under-exploited and scope for potential catches through mechanized and motorized boats. Tuna long lines and gill nets are providing on 50% subsidy on the unit cost of Rs.4.00 lakhs and Rs.1.00 lakh respectively
Supply of Sea Safety and Navigational Equipment :
Sea Safety and Navigational equipment like Life Jackets, Life buoys, G.P.S., Echo sounder, VHF Sets and DATs are provided on 75% Subsidy for all categories of sea going fishing vessels so as to promote safety at sea for fishers and facilitate to catch more fi sh with the aid of navigational equipment.
Establishment of Infrastructure facilities to Marine Fishermen :
Marine infrastructure facilities like fishing harbours, fish landing centers, dry platforms, additional shore based facilities, markets, are provided to Marine Fishermen community for promoting hygienic handling of fish and shrimp and to reduce postharvest fishery losses.
Training and Capacity Building to fishers:
Various training programmes, awareness camps, exhibitions are being conducted regularly with technical support of State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT).
Fisheries Development schemes :
The important sub schemes under this scheme are: establishment of BMCs, AQFs Hatcheries for Sea-bass and Mud crab undertaking survey and preparation of DPRs for establishment of new Fishing Harbours, Fish landing centers all along the coast, mechanization of aquaculture, supply of boats, nets, motors / engines to marine and inland fishers etc.,
Blue Revolution:
Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries” is a scheme in which all the sectors of fisheries – inland, marine, welfare, postharvest fisheries etc., are covered. GOI assistance is 24% to general and 36% to SC/ ST benefi ciaries of the unit / project cost. GoI sanctioned Rs.18.00 crores during 2017-18 to the State.
Schemes under RKVY Under RKVY :
2017-18, Rs.19.66 crores was sanctioned for fisheries sector in the state. The schemes implemented under RKVY are establishment of AQF, BMC for P.vannamei prawn, Mudcrab and Seabass hatcheries fi sh brood banks at Kovvali, (West Godavari district) and Sunkesula, (Kurnool district).
Initiatives taken by department for development of fisheries:
Disease surveillance was taken up in the identifi ed 181 Aqua clusters in 9 coastal districts covering 1248 villages to identify various shrimp/fi sh diseases to mitigate the situation by initiating timely remedial measures.
Constituted Apex Committee & Task Force Committee to conduct studies on the usage of various antibiotics, unwanted chemicals/drugs feed additives and other aqua inputs in the Aqua farming sector for recommending a comprehensive action plan to be taken in view of the alerts issued by the EU on detection of banned antibiotics residues in the shrimp exports from the state.
Desilting and de-weeding of the 56 identifi ed drains and creeks through Water Resources Department for free fl ow of fresh water to the aquaculture ponds.
DPRs are prepared for new fi shing harbours at Juvaladinne, (Nellore district), Vodarevu, (Prakasam district) Uppada, (East Godavari district) and Phase-II Development at Nizampatnam, (Guntur district), and Machilipatnam, (Krishna district) with an estimated cost of Rs.1533.62 crores.
Chandranna Bima:
Chandranna Bima is being implemented by the Government to cover insurance facility for the people in unorganized sector including fi shermen, with a nominal premium. The coverage includes missing fishermen also. The sum assured is Rs.5.00 Lakhs. 1.58 lakh fi shers are covered under this scheme.
Organization of Fishermen Cooperative Societies :
The Government has given great importance to cooperative societies in fi sheries sector to empower fishermen to manage water resources. As a policy, tanks are given on nominal lease to these cooperative societies for exploitation of fi shery wealth and also provided assistance for inputs like fi sh seed stocking, feed, boats and nets on subsidy. While so far 2.61 lakh fi shermen have been organized into societies, a large number of fi shermen still remain to be brought under the fold. This is a continuous process and wherever fi shermen are coming forward to form cooperative societies, they are being registered.