Odisha unveils roadmap to boost fishery

‘The Odisha Fishery Policy 2015’ endorsed by the state cabinet led by chief minister Naveen Patnaik  Thursday has aimed to enhance the  annual fish production in the state to 7.15 Lakh tonnes from the the present level of 4.13 lakh tonne by 2020.

“This will create additional employment both direct and indirect to over two lakh people”, state fishery department secretary Bishnupada Sethi told IBNS.

"Odisha is the first state in India to have announced a special policy for fishery sector, " he said.

The policy has highlighted the need for the improvement of riverine fisheries resources through river ranching. The government will take up  regular stock enhancement programmes in selected reservoirs for enhancing the reservoir fish productivity.

Similarly unused and unproductive waterlogged areas,  dead rivers will be developed into fish ponds. Use of pellet fish feed will be promoted with suitable incentives for increasing the aquaculture productivity, he said.

According to the new policy fingerling production will be promoted in private sector for ensuring availability to fish farmers. Brackish water aquaculture clusters with basic infrastructure such as inlet and outlet channels, road connectivity, electricity, ice plants, cold storages, etc. will be encouraged and promoted by the government.

The government will take up modernization, up-gradation and shore based infrastructure development of fishing harbour, jetty etc  to boost marine fish production, he said.

As the state’s marine fish production is hovering between 1.20 to 1.30 lakh tonne efforts will be made to exploit  untapped deep sea fishery resource by promoting intermediate crafts, Tuna liner etc. and coastal mariculture in selected areas.