New fisheries policy on the anvil

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM, SEPT. 13. The State Government is giving the final touches to a new comprehensive fisheries policy which is expected to boost the fisheries sector in the State. The Fisheries Minister, Prof. K.V. Thomas, who is the main architect of the policy, will shortly place the text before the Cabinet for approval.

All the spade work has been completed through discussions with the experts concerned. One such meeting held in Kochi late last month was presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, and attended by the top brass of the Marine Products Export Development Authority, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, the Matsyafed, the Central Institute of Fishing Technology and the Fisheries Survey of India in addition to Prof. K.V. Thomas and the Director of the Fisheries Department.

One of the main aspects of the policy is that all the eight fishing harbours in the State will be made autonomous bodies under the management of independent societies so as to grant maximum freedom in developing these ports in accordance to the respective requirements.

Under the present set-up, the fishing harbours come under the control of both the Fisheries Department and the Port Department, both in turn coming under two different Ministers. While the collection of all levies from these harbours is made by the Fisheries Department, the development activities of the ports are sanctioned and carried out by the Port Department.

This is seen to be hampering the development of the harbours since the income from levies is deposited in the treasuries directly by the Fisheries Department whereas funds for harbour development have to be cleared and allocated from a different department.

The policy under way will ensure that the income derived from the harbours is pumped back to be utilised for the overall improvement of these harbours as self reliant complexes. And improvement, especially with regard to hygiene, remains inevitable in the interests of marine products export since hygiene standards set by the European Union will have to be met as a pre condition for exports.

Informed sources in the Fisheries Department said that the Munambam Harbour in Eranakulam district would be the first fishing harbour in the State to come under the management of the proposed society.

Meanwhile, another important aspect of the policy would be to promote aquaculture on a large scale in the Kuttanad waters. The draft notes that shrimp culture could be taken up in those areas since paddy cultivation is possible in most parts of Kuttanad only during a limited period of the year.

Under a special project envisaged through the policy, shrimp hatchlings to be procured by the Matsyafed from the hatcheries at Kollam and Kannur would be distributed free of cost to the farmers who would be entitled for the exclusive ownership of the harvest. It would be also ensured that these hatchlings are disease resistant. The State level inauguration of this project will be by Prof. K.V. Thomas at Kannamally on September 17.

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