Quantitative restrictions and Indian fisheries sector - facts and fears

Anxiety sweeps across the entire spectrum of Indian enterprise including Fisheries Sector after the removal of Quantitative Restrictions (QRs) on 714 items on April 1,2001. Fish and fisheries products figure prominently in the list of items on which QR has been removed . This raises alarm in the Fisheries Sector which provides employment to 7 million people directly and indirectly. The export eaming is 1/3 rd of the agricultural exports and to the tune of RS.6300 crores. The perception varies among the different clientele-like fishermen, exporters and consumers. Apprehensions of the farmer include crash in the fish prices under large-scale import raising livelihood questions