POLICY BRIEF-EXPANDING OPEN SEA CAGE CULTURE IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS: BLUE GROWTH PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

There is a definitive need to increase the fish production for future through sustainable ways towards alleviating the issues concerning food security, livelihood and employment. Indian fisheries sector faces one of its utmost looming challenges to increase the fish production, to diversify the culture practices and to empower the farming communities by providing sustainable livelihood and employment. Mariculture is an important sub sector in aquaculture that contributes significantly to the global food security, however has met serious challenges in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Open sea cage culture is a potential sub sector in mariculture that holds greater prospective towards livelihood and employment in addition to its contributory role in food security. There is an absolute need to address the issues governing the development of open sea cage sector which demands a comprehensive roadmap and suitable policy directives with guiding principles. The attempted policy brief in collaboration with various scientific and development departments aim to address the prevailing issues with potential solutions and innovative approaches in engagement with the depending stakeholders. We strongly believe that the policy brief could be a ready reckoner for policy makers and will play a greater role in development of open sea cage culture sector in the Islands.