What is Mariculture? Discuss the salient features of the recently released draft national policy on mariculture and its shortfalls if any. (200 words)
Refer – Business Line
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IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Mariculture
· It is a specialised branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of economically important marine plants and animals in the sea or any other water body having tidal influence.
· It also includes onshore facilities like hatcheries, nursery rearing and grow out systems using seawater.
· The centre recently released a draft policy on mariculture.
Salient features
· It has mooted mariculture zones by demarcating special areas in the sea for activities such as cage farming, bivalve farming, pen culture, seaweed culture, hatcheries and nurseries based on scientific criteria.
· Satellite remote sensing data and GIS will be used to identify potential zones for mariculture on the basis of scientific evaluation of environmental parameters suitable for various types of farming.
· This will avoid conflict with other users and protecting the livelihoods of local fishing communities.
· In a bid to support fish breeding, culture, packaging and trade, the policy proposes encouraging the establishment of off-shore technology parks and coastal embankment systems.
· The policy advises the government to formulate financial assistance programmes, including prioritised lending schemes, subsidised credit and investment subsidies, to promote mariculture.
· The policy has also made provisions for leasing the water bodies and regulating the activities in the open sea waters to ensure security of the mariculture enterprises.
· Efficient market logistics would be promoted to minimize post-harvest losses and preserving the nutritional quality and value of fish.
· Institutional support will be extended for development of domestic market infrastructure for hygienic handling, processing and cold storage.
Limitations
· However, traditional fishermen fear that installing cages in the sea and protecting them would need huge investment.
· It would lead to the entry of big players into the field, leading to loss of livelihood.
· Till now there are no restrictions on fishermen in catching fish from the open sea.
· Introduction of such demarcated mariculture zones will restrict their movement and lead to conflict in the sea.
Satheesh 6 years
IAS Parliament 6 years
Nandadeep 6 years
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IAS Parliament 6 years
