India’s efforts to formulate the National Plan of Action for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) have reached a crucial stage, with the Centre spearheading community consultations across coastal states to incorporate fishers’ views into the plan. Community-led consultations have been held in Kakdwip, West Bengal, and Baleswar, Odisha. The Centre has also urged coastal states and Union Territories to organise state-level consultations and consolidate feedback from fishing communities to help shape the national plan.
The Union Department of Fisheries is leading the consultation process, with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) facilitating and coordinating the exercise.
