With a yield of 13.70 Million Metric Tons of fish during 2018-19, India is the second-largest fish-producing nation in the world. However, the contribution of the marine sector was just 30% while that of the inland sector was about 70%. The resource-potential within Indian EEZ alone is 4.412 MMT, and that of the High Seas areas within the Indian Ocean may be reasonably expected to be many multiples of this figure. The realisation of this untapped potential of deep-sea fishing in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner is an important thrust-line for the future.
However, fishing is threatened by Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the North Indian Ocean mostly by Chinese Trawlers and Deep Sea Fishing Vessels. Soem scholars have pegged the trade in IUU fishing to be about US$ 5 billion in teh North Indian Ocean alone. To prevent these leakages and control the sustainable harvesting of living resources a compregensive surveillance and rapid response mechanism is required. For surveillance a far more sophisticated eco-system of hi-tech satellite that includes Low Earth Observation satellites, Long Range UAVs equipped with Electro Optics, AIS and SAR Payloads and supported by ground stations that can alert response agencies to take punitive action is a must. Given that the proof of the catch can easily vanish response agencies such as Coast Guards need to be equipped with Sea planes carrying law enforcementagenecies to apprehend and arrest such culprits.
Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) with on-board processing, connected markets, additional job-skills such as the operation of fish-finding sonars, Remotely Operated Vessels (ROVs), seaborne and shore-based warehousing, etc. are the other elements of this eco-system to better provide sustainable revenues.
India has also begun seaweed farming in a small measure. This must be encouraged as new source of livelihood for coastal populations. Technologies to adapt to Indian sea conditions for seaweed cultivation have to be identified and developed.
In addition, substantial waste and leakages in IUU fishing is rapidly depleting fish stocks and wnatonly dumping old fishing nest, trawling lines and other plastics is adding hugely to pollution.
India has to assume leadership in sustainable fishing as a matter of livelihood, source of proteins and above all to prevent overfishing, wanton degradation of ocean systems and extinction of fish species and bio organisms transported through ballast water of tankers. The forthcoming IORA summit provides an opportunity for India to offer its space and software technologies for better surveillance. Sea planes and amphibious aircraft such as the Canadian Twin Otter for short range apprehension and the Japanese US-2 are also an important element of the solution. All ths requires international understanding and collaboration for our common future – a sustainable earth.