Hong Kong – Joint operation against improper use of bright light for fishing and illegal fishing activities (with photos)

Joint operation against improper use of bright light for fishing and illegal fishing activities (with photos)

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     The Marine Department (MD) together with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted a joint operation against the improper use of bright light for fishing and illegal fishing activities in the southern waters of Hong Kong last night (August 10).
 
     During the operation, two vessels were inspected and they were suspected to have used bright light improperly for fishing, while no vessel was found to be engaged in illegal fishing. The MD will further investigate the cases and gather evidence for prosecution.
 
     A spokesman for the MD reminded the public that under the Shipping and Port Control Regulations (Cap. 313A), vessels are allowed to use bright light for fishing in the areas where bright light fishing is permitted. However, the use of bright light on any vessel for the purpose of fishing or attracting fish in Hong Kong waters shall comply with the requirements of Cap. 313A and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F), i.e. a bright light shall be so constructed, shaded, installed and used that no light emitted from it shall be visible, whether directly or by reflection from any source other than sea surface, above a horizontal plane passing through the lowest edge of the light source. A person who contravenes the related legislation commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $5,000 upon conviction.
 
     In addition, under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171), only a vessel registered under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Local Fishing Vessel Registration can be employed for fishing by the vessel. Any offender upon conviction is liable to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     To ensure the order of marine traffic and navigation safety of vessels, in addition to daily patrols and enforcement actions in various districts of Hong Kong waters, the MD also maintains close co-operation with the HKPF and the AFCD from time to time to conduct target-based joint operations, including inspections of suspected improper use of bright light for fishing and illegal fishing activities. From January to July 2023, the MD conducted a total of 21 special operations in areas including the waters of southern Lantau Island, southern Lamma Island and east of Hong Kong. Sixteen fishing vessels were suspected of violating relevant marine legislation. The MD is now taking follow-up actions and will instigate prosecution against these fishing vessels.
 
     The MD will continue to step up patrols to combat the improper use of bright light for fishing activities so as to ensure safe navigation. The department will also meet with local fishery organisations from time to time to distribute relevant publicity and education materials to the trade. Information on the proper use of bright light for fishing is available on the MD’s website: www.mardep.gov.hk/en/publication/materials/pdf/publf.pdf.

Fishing communities


 Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in the country provides livelihood support to a total 28 million fishers. Out of these, 2.78 million fishers are full-time actively engaged in fisheries and fisheries related activities. State wise details of total number of people engaged in fisheries, aquaculture and its allied activities are at Annexure –I.




to (d): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship programme of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector with a highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crore for a period of 5 years with effect from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all the States/Union Territories. PMMSY inter-alia provides livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backward active traditional fisher’s families during the fishing ban/lean period under which Governmental financial assistance of Rs. 3000/- per annum is provided to each enrolled beneficiary along with beneficiary contribution of Rs. 1500/- annually. Further, such accumulated amount of Rs. 4500/- is disbursed to each enrolled beneficiary by the respective State/UT at the rate of Rs. 1500/- per month during the fishing ban/lean period for three months annually.




Besides, PMMSY, inter-alia, lays special focus on training, skill development, skill up- gradation and capacity building through trainings, awareness building programmes and exposure visits to stakeholders especially fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, entrepreneurs, officials, fisheries Cooperatives and members of Fish Farmer Producer Organizations. The Training, Awareness, Exposure and Capacity Building programmes are carried out through the National Fisheries Development Board, ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), other organisations and State/UT Fisheries Departments. In addition to these regular programmes, skill development programmes to traditional fishermen through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme approved by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) in respect of marine/ inland capture fisheries are also provided.


Annexure-I




Statement referred to in reply of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No.2660 put in by Shri Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla, Honourable Member of Parliament for answer on 25th March, 2022 regarding ‘Fishing communities’: State-wise details of total number of people engaged in fisheries, aquaculture and its allied activities














































Sl. No.



Name of the States/ UTs

Number of people engaged in


fisheries, aquaculture and its allied activities

1

Andhra Pradesh

1,496,688

2

Arunachal Pradesh

24,015

3

Assam

2,524,106

4

Bihar

6,027,375

5

Chhattisgarh

220,355

6

Goa

10,545

7

Gujarat

558,691

8

Haryana

118,455

9

Himachal Pradesh

11,806

10

Jharkhand

140,897

11

Karnataka

974,277

12

Kerala

1,044,361

13

Madhya Pradesh

2,232,822

14

Maharashtra

1,518,228

15

Manipur

47,711

16

Meghalaya

16,567

17

Mizoram

6,289

18

Nagaland

7,958

19

Odisha

1,517,574

20

Punjab

7,591

21

Rajasthan

57,260

22

Sikkim

581

23

Tamil Nadu

1,283,751

24

Telangana

862,221

25

Tripura

7,761

26

Uttarakhand

8,352

27

Uttar Pradesh

3,900,005

28

West Bengal

3,236,261

29

A and N Islands

25,941

30

Chandigarh

524

31

Daman & Diu and Dadra


Nagar Haveli



40,016

32

Delhi

3,346

33

Jammu & Kashmir

17,396

34

Ladakh

22

35

Lakshadweep

6,518

36

Puducherry

107,272


All India total

28,063,538




This information was given by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.




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Promotion of Fishing Industry


The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- A scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India” with highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crore for a period of five years with effect from the financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories(UTs). PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernisation and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.


The PMMSY inter-alia provides financial assistance for development of inland fisheries and aquaculture, development of marine fisheries including mariculture and seaweed cultivation, development of fisheries in North-eastern and Himalayan States/UTs, development of ornamental and recreational fisheries, technology infusion, post harvest and cold chain infrastructure, markets and marketing infrastructure, development of deep sea fishing, aquatic health management, strengthening of safety and security of fishermen etc. in all the States/UTs. The state-wise details of cumulative proposals approved and funds released during 2020-21 and current financial year (till date) under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is furnished at Annexure-I.


Besides, in order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during 2018-19 has created dedicated fund namely Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total funds size of Rs. 7522.48 crore. FIDF provides concessional finance to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including State Governments/Union Territories and State entities for development of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities through Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) namely (i) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), (ii) National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and (iii) All scheduled Banks. Under the FIDF, the Department of Fisheries provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum on the loans availed by the eligible entities from the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) for the identified fisheries projects.

















































(Rs. In lakh)

S. N

State/UT/Institutes

Cumulative                                proposals approved during 2020-21 and


2021-22 (till date)

Cumulative funds Released during 2020-21 and 2021-22


(till date)

1

A & N Islands

3005.55

709.30

2

Andhra Pradesh

65710.70

11560.39

3

Arunachal Pradesh

1864.20

790.61

4

Assam

20393.10

7727.99

5

Bihar

27461.80

4240.27

6

Chhattisgarh

26207.00

4756.32

7

Daman & Diu

645.60

186.10

8

Delhi

386.25

144.30

9

Goa

4200.20

623.59

10

Gujarat

37789.19

5698.55

11

Haryana

6306.50

1807.56

12

Himachal Pradesh

4434.57

1578.35

13

Jammu & Kashmir

3392.49

5333.56

14

Jharkhand

22549.90

2661.91

15

Karnataka

39519.44

11390.66

16

Kerala

19583.02

5162.99

17

Lakshadweep

4040.58

1442.92

18

Madhya Pradesh

32372.94

7259.14

19

Maharashtra

39687.40

5872.67

20

Manipur

2633.00

1097.97

21

Meghalaya

2145.01

790.65

22

Mizoram

3663.88

1202.35

23

Nagaland

2686.70

822.52

24

Odisha

44155.10

9963.98

25

Pondicherry

3510.52

1003.10

26

Punjab

4582.00

567.84

27

Rajasthan

1603.70

323.17

28

Sikkim

1206.16

336.58

29

Tamil Nadu

14823.65

4581.06

30

Telangana

14720.60

2105.59

31

Tripura

7272.00

1965.06

32

Uttar Pradesh

53226.20

8054.87

33

Uttarakhand

4310.60

1830.01

34

West Bengal

0.00

0.00

35

Ladakh

149.60

49.80

36

CS proposals and


others

13455.13

8751.64


Total

533696.00

122396.55




This information was given by Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.


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