New Delhi, September 21
India has called for an international vessel monitoring system to prevent illegal fishing by big nations in the territorial waters of other countries, said Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas here today.

"I raised this matter in the fifth Conference of Fisheries Ministers held at Baiona in Spain on September 16. At present, there is no effective mechanism to monitor the movement of vessels meant for fishing.

"So measures should be taken to conserve the resources and control illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the territorial waters of other countries," Thomas, who represented India in the conference, told reporters here.

He said big countries using high technology vessels were "poaching in India's territorial waters." The minister said he told the conference that an international understanding was needed to end this. And a fishing vessel registering system was needed at the global level in compliance with international agreements.

Thomas, who is also looking after fisheries in the agriculture ministry, said African nations and Brazil had supported India's suggestion.

The fifth conference, organised by Spain with the intention of analysing the ideas, proposals and initiatives of fishing nations and formulating a global strategy of progress for regulation and sustainable management of fishing, was attended by fisheries ministers from 40 countries. This was for the first time that India participated in the World Fisheries Ministers Conference, he said.

Thomas said he also highlighted India's status and capabilities in fisheries, issues of overfishing and regulations, measures taken to conserve the resources, ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) and ecofriendly fishing gears incorporating bycatch reduction devices (BRDs).

He also briefed the conference on fish stock enhancement in the country with fish aggregating devices (FADs), efforts at monitoring and mitigating the impact of climate change and the potential of aquaculture practices.

The minister stressed on the need for regional cooperation in management of marine fishery resources that are common property resources. He said the government was planning to set up a central fisheries university and vegetable, meat and fish markets of international standard in every state. — IANS