The Hindu Business Line : National meet on fisheries certification in Kochi

With several buyer countries insisting on the need for sustainability of fishing practices among the exporting countries, sustainable fisheries is assuming greater importance not only in India, but across the world. Consumers and environmental activists are now linking sustainability with global fish trade.

This is likely to emerge as a major non-tariff barrier in the near future. Many buyer countries are already insisting on certification of fisheries by internationally reputed agencies.

It is in this backdrop that the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is organising a national workshop on `Certification of Indian Fisheries by Marine Stewards Council (MSC) of UK' in Kochi on January 15.

Sustainable Fisheries

The MPEDA has already initiated the groundwork to introduce sustainable fishing practices both in the East and West coast of India. As a prelude, it conducted the National Consultation on Sustainable Fisheries at Kochi in April last year where several decisions and resolutions were taken on sustainable fishing practices and certification of Indian fisheries. And now it is time for India to initiate appropriate measures to demonstrate that its fisheries are sustainable.

As a follow up measure, MPEDA approached the Marine Stewardship Council, UK, through United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for certifying some of the Indian fisheries with regard to sustainability.

The MSC has agreed to associate with MPEDA in the certification process. The workshop is being organised in association with MSC under the UNCTAD project on `Strategies and Preparedness for Trade and Globalisation in India.'

The MPEDA has also identified the need for sustainability of harvesting squid, cuttlefish, octopus etc from the West coast of India for certification. Cultured black tiger prawn from the West coast has also been identified for certification, along with all varieties of sea caught shrimp from both the East and West coast. Tuna caught from Indian waters would also require such certification.

Overseas technical experts, senior officials from the Government of India and State Governments, fishery officials, scientists from fishery institutes, NGOs and representatives from fishermen's association are expected to attend the workshop.

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