Setting up of National Fisheries Development Board

Government has set up a National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). The  objectives and functions of the Board are:

           

       (i) To bring major activities relating to fisheries and aquaculture for focused attention and professional management;

(ii)      To coordinate activities pertaining to fisheries undertaken by different Ministries/Departments in the Central Government and also coordinate with the State/Union Territory Governments;

(iii)  To improve production processing, storage, transport and marketing of the products of capture    and culture fisheries;

(iv)  To achieve sustainable management and conservation of natural aquatic resources including the fish stocks;

(v)    To apply modern tools of research and development including biotechnology for optimizing production and productivity from fisheries;

(vi)        To provide modern infrastructure mechanisms for fisheries and ensure their effective management and optimum utilization;

(vii)       To generate substantial employment;

(viii)   To train and empower women in the fisheries sector and

(ix)     To enhance contribution of fish towards food and nutritional security.

The functions of the Board are:-

(i)         To promote, plan and organize programmes for development of fisheries and aquaculture in consultation with States and UTs;

(ii)        Advise the States and UTs for formulation of policies and programmes for fisheries development;

(iii)       To institute award, fellowships, scholarship and to organize training for all stakeholders in the fisheries sector;

(iv)       Co-ordinate with private sector, banks, financial institutions etc. for promoting partnerships for development of the sector;

(v)        Explore indentify and promote national and international benchmarks and best practices for the development of fisheries sector;

(vi)       Adoption of new and innovative production technologies, sustainable management and utilization of less utilized water resources and proper marketing of products of capture and culture fisheries;

(vii)      To facilitate technology backstopping and other technical and financial assistance in implementing programmes and projects by States/UTs;

(viii)     To sponsor/ undertake studies to assess the impact of the programme and plans of food and nutritional security and

(ix)       To develop a framework for monitoring, evaluating and assessing impact of projects and programmes undertaken by State and Central Government.