National Fisheries Policy, 2020

Government has decided for introducing a comprehensive and integrated ‘National Fisheries Policy, 2020’ by integrating the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 (NPMF), the Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (NIFAP) and the Draft National Mariculture Policy (NMP) along with the elements of Post Harvesting.

The National Fisheries Policy 2020 would offer a strategized way forward to develop, harness, manage and regulate capture and culture fisheries in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Objectives: Optimally harness the capture and culture fisheries potential of the country by enhancing fish production and productivity in a responsible and sustainable manner.

• A robust management and regulatory framework with necessary legal backing for effective fisheries resource management through an Ecosystem Approach of Fisheries (EAF) management.
• Strengthen and modernize value chain including creation of fisheries infrastructure to increase shelf life, reduction of post-harvest losses and production of value added products.
• Market, trade and export of globally competitive fish and value-added fish products benchmarked with global standards.
• Access to institutional credit as priority lending on the lines of crop sector especially to small and marginal fishers and fish farmers and unemployed youth.
• Promote community partnerships, private participation and effective cooperative movement in fisheries sector.
• Generate gainful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities along the value chain
• Ensure food and nutritional security by increasing the per capita availability of safe, affordable and quality fish.

This policy makes recommendations for intervention in marine and inland fisheries as well as mariculture, aquaculture and post-harvest.