Achilles
feast
Abraham
Tharakan, President, SEAI, lays bare the crippling concerns that plague
the fisheries sector and suggests essential reforms, in conversation
with Shuchi Srivastava
In
April 2002 the seafood exporters had called for a consistent national
fishing policy and zonalising of the coastline, with a view to check
depletion of resources and stop the illegal presence of foreign vessels
in Indian waters. What has been the progress?
As
it stands now, there is no specific policy on whether foreign vessels
should be allowed to fish in our waters. Here the issue of whether they
should be allowed to take back the material, or prevailed upon to use
our facilities for processing and value-addition is not clear. The free
entry of foreign vessels should be actively disallowed and they should
be banned from exploiting our marine resources.
We
understand that recently certain foreign vessels have been granted licence
to fish in our waters. Consequently, we are protesting and demanding
a consistent payment plan that should be applicable to foreign entrepreneurs.
As it exists now, there is no consistency in the policy and all actions
taken seem to be ad hoc in nature.
What
has Mpeda’s (The Marine Products Export Development Authority) role
been in facilitating these demands?
Mpeda
cannot really address these demands as it is under the purview of the
Ministry of Commerce, while the fishing policy is regulated by the Ministry
of Agriculture. Within the Ministry of Agriculture, it is clear that
there is lack of emphasis on fisheries. All over the world, countries
have clear progressive policies for the fishery sector but unfortunately
the Indian Government has largely ignored this area.
But
the overall export of marine products has increased considerably to
an all time high, both in volume and value, during 2002-03, with actual
exports of 4,67,297 MT valued at Rs 6,881 crore.
I believe that we are stagnating; we could have been close to $3 billion
if proper emphasis had been accorded to us. Comparatively Vietnam, which
5 years ago was earning less than $200 million as export earnings directly
accruing from marine products, is now enjoying a figure like $2.5 billion.
Another country that we can draw inspiration from is China, which has
consistently deemed fisheries as vital; and thus constantly given it
due regard in all their Five-Year-Plans. They have now emerged as one
of the strongest contenders accounting for a significant portion of
international trade in marine products.
The
most obvious problem that exists in the Indian context is that the fisheries
sector is dispersed over three ministries – Ministry of Agriculture,
Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Food Processing. This chaotic confusion
has to end as soon as possible in order for the exporters to benefit
from clear directives.
Importing
countries are now increasingly demanding backward integration and full
traceability. Given the confusion that prevails in India due to multiplicity
of authorities in charge, what is the way out?
Issues
of food safety have induced major importing countries to establish institutional
innovations to control trade in fisheries. These may be legitimate steps
taken to ensure the safety of the consumers, but many believe them to
be protective and unjustified. But it is clear that these regulations
are expected to become increasingly more stringent and......
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