News

The Union Cabinet in India has granted approval for the creation of 200,000 new Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS), dairy cooperatives, and fishery cooperatives in previously uncovered villages and panchayats over the next five years. This initiative aims to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country and will be executed with the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

The plan involves leveraging a ‘whole-of-Government’ approach and converging various schemes of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. The government will provide forward and backward linkages to farmer members, assisting them in marketing their produce, increasing income, and accessing credit facilities and other services at the village level.

Currently, there are approximately 98,995 PACS in the country with a member base of 130 million. PACS constitute the lowest tier of the Short-Term Cooperative Credit (STCC) structure, providing short-term and medium-term credit and other input services to member farmers.

The plan also targets the establishment of viable dairy cooperatives in each uncovered Panchayat/village and viable fishery cooperatives in each coastal Panchayat/village or those with significant water bodies. The Ministry of Cooperation, led by Amit Shah, is spearheading this effort to address the existing gaps, with nearly 160,000 Panchayats lacking PACS and around 200,000 Panchayats lacking any dairy cooperative society.

Primary dairy cooperative societies, numbering around 199,182 with approximately 15 million members, play a crucial role in milk procurement, providing testing facilities, selling cattle feed, and offering extension services to their members. Primary fishery cooperative societies, around 25,297 in number with roughly 3.8 million members, focus on supporting marginalized sections of society by providing marketing facilities, assisting in procuring fishing equipment, fish seed, and feed, and offering limited-scale credit facilities to members.

Fishing organizations on the West Coast have filed a federal lawsuit against 13 prominent U.S. tire manufacturers, alleging illegal harm to endangered salmon and oceangoing trout due to the use of toxic chemicals in their products. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claims that these companies have violated the U.S. Endangered Species Act through the discharge of 6PPD-quinone, a chemical derived from a tire preservative linked to adverse effects on salmon populations.

The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and the Institute for Fisheries Resources assert that the chemical is harming Chinook and steelhead, in addition to its documented impact on coho salmon returning to Puget Sound streams. The complaint identifies two dozen endangered populations of salmonids along the West Coast affected by the chemical.

Researchers found in 2020 that 6PPD-quinone was responsible for approximately 40% of coho salmon deaths in the Puget Sound area, killing significant percentages of coho before they could spawn in certain urban streams. Toxic concentrations of the chemical have been confirmed in watersheds in San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, with stormwater runoff identified as a significant contributor to the decline of the identified salmon populations.

The lawsuit coincides with the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to review the use of the chemical in tires. The complaint comes from tribes, including Port Gamble S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Yurok, alongside states like Washington, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, all urging the EPA to prohibit the chemical’s use due to its threat to waters and fisheries.

Joseph L. James, chair of the Yurok Tribe, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, stating, “We could not sit idle while 6PPD kills the fish that sustain us.” The complaint underscores the need to hold tire companies accountable for the harm caused to threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead species.

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, while aware of the lawsuit, refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation. The association highlighted ongoing efforts to research and develop alternative tire materials that prioritize sustainability and environmental respect. The lawsuit aims to address the industry’s knowledge of the problem and its alleged inaction in resolving it.

In a press conference held on Thursday, India’s Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Minister, Parshottam Rupala, revealed that the country’s inland fish production has more than doubled in the last nine years, reaching an impressive 131 lakh tonnes. This significant growth is attributed to the government’s strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering the fisheries sector. Rupala emphasized the Modi government’s commitment, citing an investment of approximately Rs 38,000 crore across various programs over the past nine years.

To discuss the immense potential and challenges within the sector, Rupala announced the upcoming ‘Global Fisheries Conference India 2023,’ scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad from November 21-22. The conference aims to bring together over 5,000 participants from around the world, including representatives from the embassies of more than 50 countries and global organizations such as FAO, World Bank, and ADB. Stakeholders, including fishers and fish farmers, are also expected to attend.

The minister highlighted the achievements in the fisheries sector since 2014, noting that inland fish production has surged from 61 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to an impressive 161 lakh tonnes. India, now the world’s third-largest fish producer, contributes 8 percent to the total global fish production, with the country’s overall fish output standing at 174 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 period.

Rupala emphasized the government’s support for fishers, including the provision of credit cards and insurance schemes. Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, L Murugan, highlighted that the global conference coincides with World Fishery Day, celebrating the significance of the fisheries sector on November 21. The two-day event, organized by the Department of Fisheries under the ministry, is expected to pave the way for a future roadmap for the flourishing fisheries industry in India.

Over 350 shrimp hatcheries along the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh have been spared from potential demolition as the Union Government amends the Coastal Aqua Authority (CAA) Act. The amendment exempts hatcheries from the previously enforced distance rule under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines.

Under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, establishments were prohibited within 500 meters of the CRZ zone. However, the recent amendment grants an exemption for hatcheries and aqua-related units.

The Coastal Aqua Authority (CCA), established in 2005, had faced a recent National Green Tribunal judgment calling for the demolition of establishments within 200 meters of the CRZ limit to protect the environment. In response to representations by hatchery owners facing this threat, the central government amended the law, providing the much-needed exemptions.

Sunkaranam Harinarayana, the General Secretary of the All India Shrimp Hatcheries Association’s Kakinada chapter, stated that the Union Government has relaxed the 250-meter zone restriction, permitting aquaculture and seed production of prawns, crabs, etc., within CRZ limits. He emphasized that India’s aqua production has reached 10 lakh metric tonnes, contributing significantly to foreign currency earnings through large-scale exports. Out of the 550 hatcheries in the country, 450 are located in Andhra Pradesh.

With the previous reliance on brood stock from the Pacific Ocean, the industry has now shifted to local production under the ‘Make In India’ initiative. The president of the association, Sathi Veerreddy, expressed relief within the hatcheries industry following this rule change, highlighting the significant direct and indirect employment opportunities it provides for lakhs of people.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

In a bid to revitalize wastelands and foster economic activity, the central government of India has announced plans to promote shrimp farming in four northern states—Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The Department of Fisheries (DoF), operating under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, aims to significantly expand shrimp farming in these states as a strategic initiative.

Salinization of groundwater has posed considerable challenges in these inland states, impacting approximately 8.62 million hectares of land. The move to promote shrimp farming is seen as an opportunity to economically utilize saline groundwater through aquaculture practices. This approach envisions evapo-transpiring a substantial portion of water from aquaculture ponds, generating income through fish, prawn, and shrimp cultivation.

Presently, shrimp production in the targeted states stands at 8,554.15 tonnes per year, originating from 2,167 hectares of saline water aquaculture. However, these states boast a potential area of 58,000 hectares suitable for saline water aquaculture. To diversify species in this aquaculture domain, the DoF has approved a project under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Rohtak, focusing on genetic improvement with a total investment of Rs9.29 crore.

CIFE has developed technology to enhance deficient ions in inland saline water, making it conducive for shrimp and other aquaculture species. Shrimp farming has proven to be a lucrative alternative for farmers with infertile lands. In regions like Malwa in Punjab, farmers are reportedly earning Rs4-5 lakh per acre per year from previously unproductive land. Under the PMMSY, the central and state governments offer a 40% subsidy to farmers, with a higher 60% subsidy for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and women farmers engaged in shrimp farming.

Fishermen in Pulicat and Ennore are expressing concerns over the proliferation of an invasive mussel species known as “kakka aazhi,” which poses a significant threat to prawns in both water bodies. Believed to be a South American mussel species, it is spreading due to the discharge of ballast waters from ships visiting the ports of Kattupalli.

The invasive mussel, identified as Mytella strigata or Charru mussels by marine biologist Naveen Namboothri of Dakshin Foundation, is native to South America and has invaded tidal wetlands globally. This marks the first time this invasive species has been identified on the Eastern coast. Local fishermen report that the mussel forms a carpet-like spread over the riverbed, impeding prawns from grazing or burying themselves in the sediment. Its expansion is leading to the depletion of indigenous yellow clams (manja matti) and green mussels (pachai aazhi).

The issue was first noted around two decades ago by Ennore fishermen, and over time, the problem has escalated into a full-fledged infestation due to human interference, pollution, and natural factors. The construction of roads and conveyor bridges in the area facilitated the mussel’s proliferation. After Cyclone Vardah in December 2016, the mussel infestation intensified and expanded northward towards Pulicat waters.

The invasive species has now affected 11 out of 52 fishing sites (paadu), highlighting the urgency for intervention. The Save Ennore Creek Campaign and Ennore-Pulicat fishers have appealed to the State Wetland Authority and Fisheries Department for prompt action to safeguard fisheries and address the ecological harm caused by the invasive mussel. The disconnect between scientists, regulators, and local communities is emphasized as a factor delaying action despite early warnings from the affected communities.

A newly published report by the Financial Transparency Coalition has unveiled extensive human rights abuses on nearly 500 industrial fishing vessels worldwide, with forced labour conditions reminiscent of slavery. The lack of transparency and regulatory oversight in the industry makes it challenging to identify those responsible for the abuses at sea. The research is considered the most comprehensive attempt to date to pinpoint companies operating vessels where tens of thousands of workers are trapped in unsafe conditions.

The report disclosed that 18% of the vessels suspected of abuse and whose ownership could be identified flew flags of convenience, a practice used by companies to evade scrutiny and conceal their shareholder structure. The study identified ZheJiang Hairong Ocean Fisheries Co. and Pingtan Marine Enterprises, both Chinese companies, as the worst offenders, with 10 and seven vessels, respectively, accused of human rights violations. A third company, China National Fisheries Corp, also faced allegations with five vessels.

Forced labour in the seafood industry is recognized as a widespread human rights crisis, affecting as many as 128,000 fishers globally. China, with a quarter of vessels suspected of abusing workers, tops the list, followed by vessels from Russia, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea, all accused of mistreating fishers.

Despite increasing pressure on US and European companies to clean up supply chains in labour-intensive industries, the seafood sector has largely escaped similar scrutiny. The lack of tools for governments to regulate activities taking place far from land adds to the industry’s opacity. The report comes as the Biden administration abandons a planned expansion of the Seafood Import Monitoring Programme, which aims to prevent illegal fishing and forced labour on foreign vessels supplying a significant portion of the seafood consumed in the US.

The report sheds light on the urgent need for greater transparency and ownership disclosure in the fishing industry, emphasizing that forced labour and human rights abuses should not be tolerated for the sake of a seafood dinner. The obstacles to transparency include vessels being licensed by countries with reputations for financial secrecy and minimal oversight, contributing to the challenges in addressing and preventing human rights violations in the sector.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cautionary advisory for fishermen along and off the coast of Andhra Pradesh in light of a developing low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. Anticipating an increase in wind speeds starting today, the IMD has forecasted prevailing winds for the next two days, November 15 and 16.

According to MD Sunanda of IMD Visakhapatnam, “A low-pressure area is formed over the Bay of Bengal…Later it will intensify into a depression in the west-central Bay of Bengal. Due to this, from Wednesday onwards, along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast, wind speeds are increasing.” In response to these developments, fishermen are strongly advised to refrain from venturing into the sea from Wednesday onward to ensure their safety.

In addition to the wind warnings, the IMD has also provided rainfall predictions for the region. Today, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are anticipated at numerous locations and a few places over Rayalaseema. Looking ahead to tomorrow, the IMD predicts, “Light to Moderate Rain likely at one or two places over the North and south coast of Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema.”

This proactive advisory from the IMD serves as a crucial alert for the coastal community, highlighting the potential risks associated with the changing weather patterns and emphasizing the importance of taking precautionary measures during this period.