Socio-legal issues in seafood industry

Abstract

Sustainability of resources and safety of products are the main areas covered under the laws regulating sea food industry. The laws relating to resources aim at protection, conservation, management and sustainability. Laws regarding seafood products focus on food quality and safety from public health point of view. Fisheries sector development policies in India include regulation of fishing areas, closed or restricted fishing seasons, ban on capture of endangered species, regulation of mesh size, coastal regulated zone, sustainable aquaculture, loan and subsidy and social welfare in the fish production sector. The labour laws in capture and culture fisheries are more of conventional nature than legal. In the post-harvest sector, the thrust is on the quality of the product and is governed by Indian and International standards. Labour laws of the state governments are largely applicable in the pre-processing and processing sector and exporting establishments. Abolition/restriction of cotract labour act and interstate migrant workmen act are the laws generally followed in this sector. Laws specific to seafood industry are inadequate or non existent. Implementation of laws and regulations in seafood industry has given rise to many social issues such as inter-sectoral conflicts, ecological problems, innovation chaos, displacement of people from traditional occupations, migration and gender concerns. International policies including exim, eco-labeling and EU regulations have also brought in some socio-legal issues in the course of their implementation.