Fisheries, and Oceans Policy of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives
The ocean is vital for the economy and food production for small islands like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and to the coastal areas of the Indian subcontinent. In the neighbouring countries of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, over 16 million people depend either directly or indirectly on marine fisheries, fish farming and inland fisheries as an economic activity. Moreover, pursuing a strong ocean policy based on common strategic interests that might see trading jointly to enhance the fisheries sector, can significantly contribute to accelerating the GDP of the three nations. The three nations have seen a steady increase in fish production over the years. India with an annual production of about 11 million tons is currently the world’s second largest fish-producing nation, according to statistics for 2017. The significance of this vast expanse of ocean was emphasised during Nelson Mandela’s visit to India in 1995. “The natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic co-operation and other peaceful endeavours,†Mandela had said. Two years later, in March 1997, the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IORA), comprising 20 states, was set up to promote sustainable growth and balanced development among member nations.
Laws and Regulations on the Ocean
The permissible outline governing uses of the ocean by individual states was classified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 and UN Fish Stocks Agreement in 1999. The combined EEZ of the three neighbouring countries, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, could be approximately 3.887 million sq. km. Therefore, each coastal state’s territorial sea limit is 200 nautical miles from its baseline known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Looking back at some of the most notable treaties signed by the neighbouring countries, the 1974 and 1976 treaties demarcating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between Sri Lanka and India was one of the significant diplomatic millstones that reshaped India’s ocean policy with its southern neighbours. At that time, the maritime boundary issues were resolved due to the personal relationship between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. In recent years, a notable fisheries agreement for India was the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) signed in mid-2006 and enforced in 2012.
Socio-economic status of fisheries in India
Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, at the southern tip of mainland India, is where the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal come together. These geographic settings provide access to waste ocean resources in the in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay area. Therefore, on a more fundamental level, Indian Blue Economy Vision of 2025 will harness the demand for fish consumption in the years to come. These people-centred ocean policies will particularly benefit India’s 14 coastal states, the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, the islands of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar, and the 3,400 villages that rely on fisheries-related economic activity. Currently, India’s seafood exports in 2016-2017 amounted to $ 5.78 billion with its third largest destination being the European Union (EU) with a share of 16%. Therefore, the European Union’s new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), addressing economic, social, and environmental sustainability becomes vital for two-way trade in fisheries between India and the EU.
Socio-economic status of fisheries in Sri Lanka
Over the past few decades Sri Lanka’s policy initiatives have strengthened its focus on Ocean resources management. As a strategy for fisheries development in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a Five-Year Fishery Development Plan was launched in 1979, aimed at increasing fish production, increasing employment opportunities, and raising the income. In Sri Lanka, over 2.7 million fishermen from 15 coastal districts depend on fisheries for their livelihood. Operating from 25 fishing harbours, they contribute to an annual estimated fish catch of 530,920 metric tons accounting for 1.3% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
A serious concern for Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector relates to poaching in Sri Lankan waters by Indian trawlers resorting to bottom trawling, which causes scraping the seabed. Despite the International Maritime Boundary treaties between Sri Lanka and India, Indian fishermen have been habitually transgressing this line, threatening the livelihood of Sri Lanka’s fishing community. Further, this has brought Indian fisherman into regular conflict with the Sri Lankan navy. However, the island nation's transition from a conflict-riddled past into a relatively peaceful and prosperous future has changed the country’s mode of managing its external affairs with India .
Also, Norwegian development cooperation, in the field of fisheries since 1971, which includes fisheries management research and education, and private sector development with the aim of achieving sustainable management of fisheries resources in the island nation. Additionally, to provide the island nation with up-to-date data to better monitor its fish stocks, the Norwegian Research Vessel successfully completed a marine resources survey around the island in 2018.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s fish exports faced a massive blow in 2010 when the country faced an EU ban and the removal of Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) facility. This facility allows Sri Lankan exporters duty free access to EU countries. The reversal of the ban in 2017 could help the country achieve its target of $ 1.5 billion from sea food exports in the coming years.
Socio-economic status of fisheries in the Maldives
Historically, fishing is the main traditional livelihood of the Maldivians. In Maldives, the fisheries sector is a major driver of the economy, contributing to seven percent of the nation’s GDP. With a total fish production of 48,399 metric tons in 2016, it is the second largest industry in the island nation. Of the fish caught, 60% are skip jack tuna. With the mechanisation of the traditional sailing boat, “Dhoanis†in 1974, the traditional wooden and fibre glass boat building industry had started emerging .The Alifushi Raa Atoll is the most famous Atoll for building boats, among the many Atolls in the Maldives. Today, the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) is playing a major role in the country’s fisheries sector development.
According to the latest research findings , the Blue Economy portfolio is worth over three billion dollars (the World Bank). Therefore, the Ocean policy will enable the coastal communities living in these three neighbouring countries, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, to reach a higher income level.
(Srimal Fernando is a Doctoral Fellow at Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), India and Advisor / Global Editor of Diplomatic Society for South Africa. He is the winner of the 2018/2019 ‘Best Journalist of the Year’ award in South Africa, and has been the recipient of GCA Media Award for 2016.In the field of politics, and Policy affairs, Fernando is a specialist, with over ten years of first hand experience in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.The views expressed are personal)
