Register all boats, fishing licences a must, states told

The proposal, expedited after the attack, proposes to the Cabinet Committee on Security that while some of these IPVs could be made at its Garden Reach Shipyard, some could be purchased off the shelf. It seeks permission to acquire these vessels for about Rs 1,000 crore.

India has a 7,516-km coastline, touching nine states and four union territories, for which it currently deploys 13 IPVs.

In a separate move, the Agriculture Ministry has sent out a missive to state governments asking them to enforce the model Marine Fisheries Regulation Act 8212; fisheries being a state subject, the Centre can only provide a 8220;model8221; Act 8212; which stipulates the registration of each fishing vessel with a specified authority. Under this Act, each state has to ensure that each boat prominently displays the registration number on the boat, obtains license for fishing, informs and sticks to a port of operation and submits voyage report within a stipulated time.

The letter, dated December 3, has asked states to 8220;intimate the status of registration of fishing vessels8221; in the state as there were 8220;reports that a large number of these vessels were not registered or were undertaking fishing activities without a licence8221;.

It has also asked states to provide details of any exemptions granted to any category of fishing vessels under the state law in force.