Date:21/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122160030300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Plan to extend inland fishing

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The State government is working towards developing fishing in nearly 10,000 hectares of inland water bodies with participation from the local farmers during the next three years, said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. He was speaking after the State-level inauguration of the ‘Matsya Keralam’ project at Kedamangalam S.N. College grounds near here on Saturday.

Food security

The project is being implemented to ensure the contribution of fisheries sector towards food security. The project will be completed with public participation in a time-bound manner, he said.

Even though the State has more than four lakh hectares of inland water bodies, including 44 rivers, Kuttanad backwater and Thrissur Pokkali farms, its full potential has not been utilised.

‘Matsya Keralam’ project is aimed at increasing the inland fish production from existing 70,000 tonne to 2 lakh tonnes. The project is part of the State government’s efforts to bring the marginalised fishermen community to the mainstream society.

In his address, Minister for Fisheries and Registration S. Sarma said only 20 per cent of the installed capacity of the processing plants in the State is being used at present.

The Chief Minister handed over shrimp seedlings to some of the beneficiaries. V.D. Satheesan, MLA, released the logo of the project. K. Chandran Pillai was the chief guest. MLAs M.K. Purushothaman, K. Babu, M.M. Monayee, and T.U. Kuruvilla, and District Collector M. Beena, were present.