Sagar Parikrama [UPSC Notes]

The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy launched the Sagar Parikrama initiative to better understand the issues, experiences, and aspirations of fishermen, as well as to examine the scope of seafood exports and popularise programs available to fishermen in coastal areas.

The topic has a very high chance of being asked as a UPSC Prelims Economy Question or as a Current Affairs Question, as it has been in the news recently.

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Sagar Parikrama Programme Latest News

On 31 August 2023, Phase VIII of the Sagar Parikrama programme was launched aiming to cover the East coast of the country. 

• The first part of Sagar Parikrama was launched in March 2022 from Mandvi, Gujarat (Sagar Parikrama–Phase I) and completed in June 2023 at Vizhinjam, Kerala (Sagar Parikrama–Phase VII) covering key areas on the west coast of the country.
• The second part was resumed from Vizhinjam (Phase VIII).
• The first day of this phase covered the coastal areas of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

In February 2023, the union minister of fisheries launched Sagar Parikrama Phase-III. Phase 3 starts from Hazira Port, Gujarat, and continues towards the coastline of Maharashtra at Satpati, Vasai, Versova, and Parikrama will end at Sasson Dock, Mumbai.

• Phase I: It was organized in Gujarat.
• Phase II: It covered Mangrol to Veraval and ended at Mul Dwaraka, and from Mul Dwaraka to Madhwad.

About Sagar Parikrama Initiative

• It is a navigational journey that took place in all coastal states/UTs along a predetermined maritime route to show solidarity with all fishermen, fish farmers, and other concerned parties. It is envisioned as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’.
• In the first phase, the Parikrama began in Mandvi, Gujarat, and continued in other districts of Gujarat as well as other states/UTs in succeeding phases.
  • The first phase of the “Sagar Parikrama” began on 5^th March 2022 in Mandvi and concluded on 6^th March 2022 in Porbandar.
  • The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy (Department of Fisheries), as well as the government of Gujarat’s department of fisheries, the Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board, and fishermen representatives, organised “Sagar Parikrama,” which began on 5^th March in Mandvi and ended on 6^th March in Porbandar, via Okha in Devbhoomi Dwarka.
• While the initiative had been planned to be organised in all states and union territories which have a coastline, Gujarat was the 1^st state as part of this programme.
• The goal was to visit fishing harbours, landing places, and fishing points all around the nation, rather than just ports. To create a “fishing village” cadre, equivalent to the “vibrant village” cadre, to examine the circumstances in such villages, determine the fisher community’s aspirations, and bridge the gap between their aspirations and their realities.
• Fishermen and individuals interested in animal husbandry would be able to use the Kisan credit card (KCC). The government has developed an SoP for the same, although public awareness is poor.
• It will also run engagement sessions with fishermen, fisher communities, and stakeholders in these places and districts in order to gain a better understanding of the issues facing coastal fishermen.
• As a spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, it is envisioned in the water across the coastal belt, displaying unity with all fisher folk, fish farmers, and concerned stakeholders.

Sagar Parikrama Objectives

• To spread information on various schemes and programmes related to fisheries being implemented by the government. 
• Promoting responsible fisheries.
• Marine ecosystem protection.
• Showing support to the fisher community.
• Sustainable balance between using marine fisheries resources for the country’s food security, coastal fishing communities’ livelihoods and bridging the gaps of fishing communities.

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Sagar Parikrama Significance

• The economy, security, and the livelihoods of coastal states of India are very much dependent on the ocean/sea. The nation has an 8,118-kilometre-long coastline that spans nine maritime states and four Union Territories, giving livelihood support to lakhs of coastal fishermen.
• It will concentrate on achieving a long-term sustainable balance between the country’s food security and the livelihoods of coastal fisherpeople, as well as the conservation of marine ecosystems.
• The program will help in establishing direct interaction with the fisher community, understanding their problems, and understanding issues related to coastal areas.
• This would add to efforts of sustainable development for coastal areas and communities. It will also help India in achieving SDGs 13, 14, 15, etc.

Fisheries Sector in India at a Glance

• According to the Economic Survey for 2021-22, the fishing industry has had double-digit average annual growth of 10.87 percent since 2014-15, with peak fish production of 145 lakh tonnes in 2020-21.
• During the last five years, the Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture industry has grown at an average yearly rate of 7.53 percent. During 2019-20, the nation exported 12.89 lakh metric tonnes of fishery goods worth Rs. 46,662 crore (USD 6.68 billion).
• Notwithstanding the infrastructure problems, the union government’s actions in recent years have assured that the fisheries sector has maintained an annual growth rate of more than 10%.
• Over 2.8 crore people in this nation rely on this sector for their livelihood. Nonetheless, this is an industry with a lot of untapped potential.
• India is the world’s fourth-biggest exporter of fish, accounting for 7.7% of worldwide fish production.
• India is the world’s second-largest aquaculture producer of fish.

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