Giriraj inaugurates celebrations of World Fisheries Day 2019

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Giriraj Singh on November 21, 2019, inaugurated the celebrations of World Fisheries Day 2019 at NASC Complex, PUSA, New Delhi.

Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying : Dr Sanjeev Balyan and Pratap Chandra Sarangi, also graced the occasion as Guests of Honour. During the event, the Ministers felicitated outstanding fish farmers, aquapreneurs and fisher folks in recognition of their accomplishments in the field and for their contribution to the growth of the sector.

Addressing the gathering, Giriraj said that Farmers and Fishermen are doing their best and attempting various means and ways to make progress in their respective fields. He said that PM Narendra Modi has put his faith on all of them and has made a separate Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to ensure that all possible help and favourable policies are formulated for their benefit.

Giriraj said thatFisheries is divided in two parts, one part is the Marine fisheries which taps the long coastline of India and the other is Inland fishery which is done in Rivers, Canals, Ponds and other small water bodies. He said that people have harvested but not done ranching.

Taking the example of Punjab, Giriraj said that Saline water which is considered a problem in most States can be turned into a potential gold mine for farmers and fishermen using shrimps. He said 13,000 farmers have converted their boats through mechanisation for better fishing and a Pilot project on 300 boats in Tamil Nadu is being undertaken to check its efficacy. He further said tha tCage culture should be adopted in places where ocean/sea is unstable. He also said that there is a huge scope for brackish water fishing with good export potential and the Department is making strategy to tap this potential, according to a PIB release.

He exhorted that work should be done on identifying those fish breeds that have a good export market and ICAR has taken out 61 varieties of fishes which can be exported.