Visakhapatnam: Aiming to promote development and management of aquaculture, the Centre is planning to have a common policy shortly for the benefit of people in the sector, said minister of state for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman.
Addressing a meet of the MPEDA here in the Visakhapatnam on Saturday, she said the aim of the government is to enhance seafood exports from the current volume of $5 billion to $10 billion by 2020.
For achieving the target the government would discuss with chief ministers of coastal states, ministers and MPs on the framework of the proposed common policy for safeguarding interests of persons in aquaculture.
“There is a demand from the aquaculture sector to be treated at par with agriculture for benefits and other concessions. The layers of the industry need to be handled and for that reason we are trying to list complete issues. We will discuss and simplify the excessive regulations that have been hampering growth of trade,” the minster said.
The minister said even as the government has been concentrating on providing clearances to industrial organisations through a single window system, why can’t it be possible for a common person, who depends on fishing activity, to get permission from the authorities.
