Tamil Nadu state has one of the highest resources endowments for fisheries and aquaculture viz., 1076 km coastal length, 56000 ha of potential brackish water area, many reservoirs and fresh water bodies extending to 3.8 lakh ha. The state produces about 5lakh metric tons of fish. Fisheries is a high income generating activity, particularly brackish water aquaculture can provide a net income of Rs.3 to 5 lakh per ha in a short span of 3 to 4 months. Large numbers of people are provided with employment through forward and backward linkages and ancillary support activities, like fishing craft and gear making, aqua farm inputs production and supply processing, marketing and exporting. Realizing the importance of fisheries in Tamil Nadu, governmenthas allotted Rs.743.79 crores, which is one among the highest budget allocation for fisheries sector among different states of India. With all these support, doubling of income of fish farmers and fisheries by March 2022 in Tamil Nadu is a realistic goal. Adoption of newer culture systems like Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and biofloc and periphyton based farming systems will help to achieve the goal in shorter time. Public Private Partnership and use of modern ICT tools like mobile apps will bridge the missing links in extension services.
ICAR-CIBA and Federation of India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Nagapatiinam and Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAI) , Chennai organized a “Workshop on Revitalizing Fisheries and Aquaculture in Tamil Nadu- DOUBLING INCOME BY March 2022” on 30th May 2017 at Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture, Chennai. Dr K.K.Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA Chennai, n his inaugural address, stated that Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector is a ‘Sleeping Giant’ in Indian Economy and its true strength is yet to be fully conceived by the planners and policy makers. This sector provides Food, Employment and Prosperity to the people. The vast area of water resources available in Tamil Nadu provides huge scope3 for expansion of aquaculture for the production of finfish and shellfish. Mr.P. Murari, IAS Adviser to FICCI and Former adviser to President of India emphasized the importance of deep sea fishing and stated that fishermen need to be trained for long term fishing in the sea and suitable technologies and facilities need to be provided for them. He particularly emphasized the potential for the expansion of brackish water aquaculture in Tamil Nadu on environmentally safe and sustainable mode. The workshop had three (I) Parallel Technical Sessions on Marine and Industrial Fishing and Mariculture, (ii) Brackish water and Inland Aquaculture and Inland Capture Fisheries and (iii) Development of Domestic Markets, Value Addition and Reduction of Post Harvest Losses. The major recommendations emerged out of the discussions areas follow:
- Site specific Mariculture activities finfishes/shell fishes need to be carried out in various parts of TamilNadu.
- Capacity building and skill development programmes in deep sea fishing operations for marine fisher folk should be developed in the context of declining fisheries.
- Forumulating strategic measures for promotion of fisheries production through scientific zonation and release of government owned brackish water lands for aquaculture, modern fish marketing and processing on Public Private Partnership Mode.
- Sustainable efforts on convergence by ICAR-CIBA, FICCI, TNFU, CAA and Department of Fisheries development ensuring double the income to the fish double the income to the fish farmers and fishers.
Other dignitaries who have actively participated in the workshop include Mr.RubanHobday, Chief FICCI-TN, Dr R. Sudharshan, Assistant Senior Director, FICCI Chennai, Dr M Sakthivel, Formerly Director MPEDA and Dr.Cheryl Antony, Dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute (FC & RI), Ponneri. The fish farmers, fishers and members form the Indian Fishermen Association, staff form the Coast Guard and scientists and officials from ICAR-CIBA, Chennai and FC&RI, Ponneri, The welcome address was given by Dr.T.Ravisankar, Scientist in Charge, Institute Technology Management Unit (ITMU) and workshop concluded with vote of thanks by Dr.P.K.Patil of ITMU CIBA.
Source: Aqua Tech