Ornamental fisheries sector seeks import duty waiver

New Delhi Representatives of the ornamental fisheries sector have urged the central government for policy interventions and financial assistance. They have requested for relaxation in the import duty as most of the raw material for ornamental accessories is imported and lower goods and services tax (GST) on accessories, official sources told Bizz Buzz.

The representatives, who met Central government officials recently, included more than 64 ornamental fish producers, exporters, retailers, manufacturers, and breeders. Accompanied by state officials, they highlighted the issues in breeding technologies, training, disease diagnostics and referral labs, quarantine centres, brood banks and brood stock, power tariffs, use of solar energy, etc.

Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi, who chaired the meeting, talked about identifying hotspots for knowledge centres, outreach to be taken up for creating awareness, dissemination of information among stakeholders, engagement with the chambers of commerce concerned for market intelligence on industry perspectives, and centres of excellence in clusters to be looked into under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

The objective of the consultation was to get market insights from on-ground experiences, identify the sectoral gaps and challenges, and discuss solutions for joint action by the stakeholders. The recent deliberation also intended to reinitiate discussion on the anticipated role of the Union Department of Fisheries towards promotion of the ornamental fisheries sector.

India is bestowed with rich aquatic biodiversity suitable for a diverse range of ornamental fish species, as various regions of the country have unique species that are sought after in the international market, the sources said. The ornamental fish trade has adequate potential to generate significant income and employment opportunities, especially for rural communities and small-scale entrepreneurs. The Indian ornamental fish trade mostly deals with freshwater fish (90 per cent), of which 98 per cent are cultured and two per cent are captured from the wild. The remaining 10 per cent are marine fishes of which 98 per cent are captured.

Considering the potential of ornamental fisheries, the Department of Fisheries has identified development of ornamental fisheries as a key activity under its schemes Blue Revolution and PMMSY.