Fisheries net Maharashtra support

Mumbai: The state plans to launch a programme for achieving self-sufficiency in fish production.

A meeting that finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar recently had with officials of the fisheries and animal husbandry departments chalked out the details of the programme that will be called ‘Our Seed Our Feed’.

“The scheme of ‘Our Seed Our Feed’ would be implemented to bring ‘Nilkranti’ or blue revolution in the state. Under the scheme, basic infrastructure for fish production would be provided. We will ensure that the scheme will have sufficient funds,” Mr Mungantiwar said.

The state produced 6.92 lakh tonnes of salt and freshwater fish in 2016-17.

The government wants to utilise the state’s 720-km-long seashore and also the possibilities of fish production in tanks, rivers and ponds,

Mr Mungantiwar said. “We have planned to modernise fishing centres under the Centre’s Sagarmala Project. The work has started on it already,” the minister added.

Animal husbandry and fisheries minister Mahadev Jankar said the ministry’s aim was to increase people’s income from fisheries. He also said the discharge of untreated effluents from factories affected fish production.

“Wastewater from factories pollute rivers. It affects fish production adversely. Also, sewage water of villages should not flow into the rivers,” Mr Jankar said.

Apart from the long coastline, the state has 22,597 water conservation projects and ponds that cover 4.18 lakh hectres.

The state also has 19,456 km of river. There are 173 fish landing Centres on the coast including Mirakwada, Bhaucha Dhakka and Sassoon Dock.

There are 13,000 fishing boats registered in the state boats and 28 refrigerated storage facilities.