Relevance : GS Paper II
A Marine Fisheries Regulation and Management (MFRM) Bill 2019 is in the public domain for discussion.
The rationale of the bill
- The annual fishery potential of the country’s EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone ) is about 5 million tonnes. No Central government, so far, has framed laws covering the entire EEZ. The Bill attempts to make up for this.
- The Bill is also a response to discussions on fisheries’ subsidies at the WTO since the Doha Round of 2001.
Issues with the Bill
An Indian fishing vessel desirous of fishing in the EEZ, outside the TS (Territorial Sea), must obtain a permit. This requirement has been contested by the fishing industry — particularly small-scale operators.
Other issues with the Bill
- The Bill lacks congruence with important regional fishery agreements.
- It is incomplete compared to the regulations in other coastal nations.
Way forward
- A few exemption clauses to safeguard livelihoods of small scale operators should be incorporated in the Bill.
- State governments, fisher associations and the fishing industry representatives should argue for greater “cooperative federalism.
Conclusion
Fish cannot be bound by territoriality diktats of the Centre or states. Cooperative governance between them is key to the sustainable management of marine fisheries.