Draft National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Bill

Source: PRS India

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying released the draft National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Bill.

About National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) 

• The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was established in 2006 as an autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India to enhance fish production and productivity in the country and to coordinate fishery development in an integrated and holistic manner
• The activities of NFDB are overseen by a Governing Body under the Chairmanship of the Union Agriculture Minister. 
• The Governing Body and the Executive Committee consider and decide the activities of the Board and provide periodic guidance.

Key features of the bill 

• Re-constitution of NFDB: The Draft Bill sets up the NFDB as a body corporate and declares it to be an institution of national importance. Further, it seeks to transfer the assets, liabilities, and other rights and obligations of certain existing institutions to the NDFB. These institutions are: (i) the National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank, Odisha, (ii) the North Eastern Regional Centre, Guwahati, and (iii) the Moolapalem site of the NFDB. These bodies will continue as subsidiary units of the NFDB.  
• Board of Directors: The NFDB will be run by a Board of Directors. The Board will consist of: 
  1. The Chief Executive of the NFDB (the Chairperson of the Board)
  2. The Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries
  3. Seven directors from the secretaries of the state fishery departments, and 
  4. Two subject experts.  
• Functions of the NFDB: The functions of the NDFB include: 
  1. Planning and promoting the development of fisheries and aquaculture
  2. Formulating schemes with the approval of the central government for the development of fisheries in a sustainable manner
  3. Strengthening fisheries infrastructure
  4. Facilitating training and skill development of stakeholders, and 
  5. Assisting the central government in regulatory measures.  
• Finances: The NFDB will maintain a fund that will be credited with sums received from the transfer of the existing undertakings to the NFDB, fees collected for its activities, and other sources. The accounts of the NFDB will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.