Supporting Development of Strategies for Enterprise Promotion and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Fisheries Sector in Orissa

The Orissa Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) identifies “Fisheries” as one of the three sectors for enterprise development & pro-poor economic growth.

Aim of the Project:

• To facilitate the formulation of a comprehensive policy and development of strategies for promotion of enterprise and livelihood security in the sector by the Fisheries Department in collaboration with all key Stakeholders.

• To study and analyse the existing policies/ rules/ guidelines, in operation in the state and in different parts of the Country.
  

• To undertake empirical studies in different areas to assess the current ground situation.
  

• To visit different states, having sound fisheries policies, study the Central Fishery/ Environment/ Agriculture/ ARD policies to get an overview by the key stake holders.
  

• To hold consultations among the various stake holders to elicit their opinions, to provide useful inputs for shaping the Policy.
  

• Capacity building of Government Department implementing the policy.
  

• To demonstrate through strategic pilot action research projects, the scope of value addition through provision and adoption of international practices, standards and technologies in harvesting, post harvest handling, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of fish and fish products etc.
  

• To establish a Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Policy Advocacy and Facilitation for mutually beneficial public-private partnership projects in the fisheries sector.
  

• To undertake capacity building activities, exposure visits, IEC and awareness generation campaigns for adoption of improved fishing practices at various scales of enterprises, resulting in sustainable use of natural resources.

• Develop an integrated policy, Vision document defining roles of private and public sector in the state as well as the roles of state vis-à-vis the center.
  

• Collection, Collation, Analysis and Synthesis of information on the nature of markets for fisheries in terms of products/ producers/ users and existing operational linkages.
  

• Building up the relevant knowledge-base and developing strategic plans on the nature of enterprises and livelihoods that can and need to be enhanced or established.
  

• Review legal and regulatory framework in the state and best practices elsewhere to identify changes needed for improved framework for the sector as a whole and with special emphasis on:
  

• Increasing investment and allocation in pro-poor fisheries based livelihood sector.
  

• Increasing domestic and external market share for the sector.
  

• Ensuring conservation of existing fisheries wealth and its utilization in a sustainable manner
  

•   Action/ desk research and empirical studies on:
  

• Vital policy and regulatory issues impacting key stakeholders in the fisheries sector.
  

• Assessment of impact of current regulatory framework on enterprise development and livelihood security at inception of programme.
  

• Assessment of impact of improved regulatory framework on enterprise development and livelihood security beginning at mid-term of the programme.
  

• Instituting consultancies and interventions for strengthening state resource institutes, SIRD and district level training institutes and other relevant nodal institutes in the state
  

• Trainings for both technical and managerial staff of nodal and partner departments responsible for implementing new strategies.
  

• Exposure visits of key personnel to other states implementing innovative strategies in the sector.
  

• Management of Fishery Harbour through stakeholders: Enhancement of facilities at one harbour/ fish landing site to upgrade quality assurance aspects as per EU standards in order to serve as a model for replication through public-private partnerships in the state.
  

• Responsible & sustainable fisheries: Demonstrate feasibility and usefulness of modern technologies such as satellite based fish tracking systems and expert systems for monitoring of fishing stock and decision making on harvest/ production control for sustainable fisheries.
  

•   Develop a department run info-service centre at a strategic location into a Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Management.
  

• Consultancies for development and implementation of capacity building and communication strategies for key stakeholders.
  

• Awareness Generation.
  

• Training of representative sample of key stakeholders.
  

• Exposure visits of representative sample of key stakeholders to areas of smart practice.
  

• Development of model community info-service cum training centres based on effective information and communication technology (ICT) tools networked with the Centre for fisheries and aqua culture management and support to improve availability, accessibility, utilization and sharing of resources by all stakeholders and especially poor fishing communities.
  

• Special programme at model community info-service cum training centres focusing on empowering women involved in the fisheries sector.
  

• Development and implementation of coordinating mechanisms and innovative community based approaches for credit linkages, strengthening of workers cooperatives and fisher-women self help groups, improving marketing mechanisms etc through public-private partnerships.