The Union Budget 2025-26 will pave the way for total privatisation of the fisheries sector, Charles George, president of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi, an independent union of fishermen, said here on Saturday.
The Budget has set aside ₹25,000 crore for the sector without analysing what has been done with the ₹20,000 crore set aside under the PM Matsya Sambadak Yojana announced earlier, he said.
The Budget has rejected without a hearing the demand for developing cooperatives and modernisation of the fisheries sector, which is labour intensive.
It is estimated that India can sustainably fish for 53.1 lakh tonnes. To catch this volume of fish, 97,000 vessels are needed. However, there are 3,15,000 vessels in operation in the country.
The government motive is to bring in big fishing vessels and massive operations, especially in the deep-sea segment, whereas the fisheries sector in India is dominated by the traditional sector. The government move to allow large vessels was withdrawn following protests from small-scale fishermen, Mr. George claimed.
The government wants to alienate the traditional fishermen from their livelihood means under the Blue Economy programme to expand the ship building industry, he added.
Published - February 01, 2025 07:06 pm IST
