Inland fisheries poised for growth in the State: CM

: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday said the state has already initiated rapid strides in the inland fisheries sector and it would be spread in every local body of the state in another three years. He was inaugurating a state-level meet of those who engaged in inland fisheries.

Pointing out that 931 local bodies have already entered the thriving sector, Mr. Chandy said all the 1,200 local bodies would be covered by the project in the next three years. “At least one model fish farm would be started in every district of the State. Each local body would have one model fish farm in the next three years,” he said.

The Chief Minister said anxieties of Forest and Electricity departments over the permission given for inland fish farming in dams would be alleviated with the help of experts.

Forests would not be disturbed by the inland fisheries, he said. “As many as 7,000 farmers have already been roped into the inland fresh water fisheries sector. A total area of 12,319 hectares has been utilised for the purpose. The annual production of fish is 1,02,683.21 tonne,” said the Chief Minister.

He distributed awards to best farmers in aquaculture, prawns, mussels and fresh water fisheries sector.

Minister K Babu presided. According to Mr Babu, the thriving inland fisheries sector can compensate the depletion now happening in the traditional sea fisheries sector.