Fisheries Administration and Lagislation

Unit 9 - Laws relating to fish products and fish marketing

9.3. Trade and other matters
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the Ministry of Environment and Forests under 'Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The Rules of 1989 also define five competent authorities i.e. the Institutional Bio safety Committees (IBSC), Review Committee of Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) and District Level Committee (DLC) for handling of various aspects of the rules.

Bio-safety data of approved GM crops
Biosafety data including comparative toxicity, allergencity and feeding studies in experimental animals is generated by applicants prior to seeking approval from GEAC as per "Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export & storage of hazardous micro organisms, genetically engineered organisms or cells, 1989" and "Revised Guidelines for Research in Transgenic Plants & Guidelines for Toxicity and Allergenicity Evaluation of Transgenic Seeds, Plants and Plant parts - 1998."

Domestic marketing of fish: Domestic marketing of fish needs regulation of wholesale as well as retail trades with adequate thrust on hygiene while handling, transportation and storage. [Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India may initiate a network programme to identify the problem and to develop necessary infrastructure].
Popularization of domestic market, especially for shrimp and fish products, is essential creating some kind of a system on the lines of Anand Dairy, Gujarat or Sudha Dairy, Bihar. In order to make the marketing activities successful, the local committee should have the representation from stakeholders, State department of marketing, State department of fisheries and members of municipality/ Gram panchayat. The market committee should levy a cess on the sale of fish and fishery products for its maintenance.

Minimum support price: Fish is a high demand commodity and as it is a live material of buffer stock like grains is a difficult proposition. Evidently, providing support price is not possible.
Movement of fish/seed: There should not be any restriction on the movement of fish and fish seed from one state to another so long duly certified fish and seeds are transported. However, any consignment carrying diseased fish/seeds or banned fish, the state should confiscate the same and initiate legal action against the dealer/trader.
Inter departmental Coordination: It is important to have an interdepartmental (irrigation, agriculture, fisheries and others) coordination committee towards the sharing of resources. This is essential to ensure rational utilization of resources, both physical and biological. Experience suggests that apathy towards the importance of other sector has done greatest damage to multiple user resources.
Post harvest issue: Post harvest issues, such as value addition to agricultural produce, have become vital due to changed world order during the WTO regime. The State shall educate people in this regard for higher gain.
Generation of Data on Fisheries: A mechanism should be developed under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture to collect data on a uniform and regular manner on various facets of fish and fisheries.