New Delhi, July 23: Government today gave its nod for the promulgation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands marine fishing regulation, 2003 seeking the curb poaching and exploit the fishing potential in the Union Territory. The approval was given by the Union Cabinet which met here tonight with the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the chair, an official spokesperson said here after the meeting. He said the new regulation will replace a 1938 legislation which had become outdated and inadequate to effectively contain the menace caused by poaching by unauthorised fishing vessels from neighbouring countries. The regulation will also help in the development of fisheries which hitherto has remained unexplored and unexploited. Against a resource potential of 1.6 lakh tonnes, the present production is only about 28,000 tonnes, he said.


The prosposed promulgation contains provisions for imposition of penalities on vessels operating in contravention of the regulation, he added.


There will also be regulation and prohibition of fishing by fishing vessels within specified areas in water surrounding the Andamans but not beyond the territorial waters.

An appellate board will be constituted which shall consist of three members one of whom shall be a person who is or has been a district judge.

The spokesperson said steps will be taken to get the regulation made and promulgated by the president at the earliest. Bureau Report