The Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation has decided to explore the possibility of placing artificial reefs along Kerala coast.
An official release said here on Sunday that a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation had taken the decision in this regard considering the encouraging results got from the pilot project undertaken off Vizhinjam Coast.
The Corporation would take up underwater studies of the place before implementing the project State-wide. As many as 300 RCC pyramidal modules and enriching materials had been placed underwater off the Vizhinjam coast in July 2012 to form the artificial roof and that had attracted fish.
The meeting decided to extend the benefits of deep sea fishing scheme to 150 more traditional fishing crafts. Already 350 traditional crafts have benefited from supply of equipment for deep sea fishing costing Rs.40,000 under the scheme. The equipment included insulated boxes to suit stay fishing, GPS for navigation, life jackets, artificial baits, gears, and other accessories.
Fisheries Minister K. Babu chaired the meeting. Fisheries Secretary James Varghese, Director of Fisheries C.A. Latha, Managing Director of KSCADC K. Ampady, director board members Veli Varghese, Anil Kalathil, and U.S. Balan attended.
