Prelims – Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development.
Why in News?
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is often seen in news when India imposes a monsoon fishing ban.
- Total Allowable Catch (TAC) – It is a regulatory limit on the total quantity of fish that can be harvested from a specific water body or region.
- It is typically imposed by government agencies and international bodies with jurisdiction over fisheries or fish stocks in seas, oceans, lakes, and other water bodies.
Ecological Importance
- Population sustainability – It helps to maintain a minimum fish population size that allows species to reproduce and sustain themselves over time.
- Preventing overfishing – Without TAC limits, excessive fishing can deplete populations beyond their ability to recover naturally.
- Ecosystem balance – Maintaining healthy fish stocks supports broader marine ecosystem health and biodiversity.
Implementation in India
- Seasonal fishing ban - India implements a complete fishing ban (effectively a TAC of zero) for 61 days annually in the exclusive economic zone.
- Regional timing – The ban operates from April 15 to June 14 on the east coast and June 1 to July 31 on the west coast.
International Dispute
- Patagonian toothfish case – It is the dispute involving the US and Russia.
- Since 2021, Russia has refused to accept the TAC for Patagonian toothfish in the South Atlantic Ocean established by the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
- The rejection forced all other countries on the Commission to set their own limits.
- The UK subsequently adopted a lower TAC for the Patagonian toothfish in the area.
Reference
The Hindu| Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
