Govt to promote open sea cage fish farming

The Centre will promote open sea cage fish farming on priority basis to boost fish production from marine sector, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.

Currently, fish output in India is estimated to be 11.4 million tonne (MT), of which only 32 per cent comes from marine sector and the majority 68 per cent from inland fishery sector, he said.

Going by scientists' estimates, the minister said, fishery resources of near-shore waters in the 200 metres depth zone are either optimally utilised or sometimes over-exploited, which is a matter of serious concern for the livelihood of traditional fishermen.

"The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DADF) has formulated a document on Mission Mariculture-2022 with the objective of enhancing fish production from marine sector," Singh said.

He was speaking at the inter-session meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Agriculture Ministry at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.

It is proposed to promote mariculture including open sea cage culture activity in all maritime states on priority basis, he said in a statement.

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has recommended to promote open sea cage fish farming across the country after the success of pilot projects at 14 locations.

Open sea cage farming is one of the eco-friendly farming activities under mariculture which is being practiced in open sea where wave action is less.

"The fishes that are being cultured in cages are high value fishes; hence there is a huge export demand for cage cultured fishes," the minister noted.

Considering the negligible opportunities of additional fish production from the near shore area, the government has decided to promote 'marine culture fisheries' and included the sub-components of 'Mariculture' under 'Blue Revolution' scheme.

With fish demand expected to touch 15 MT by 2020 against the production of 11.4 MT, the minister also mentioned that the gap of 3.62 MT is likely to be filled by inland aqua-culture and also through mariculture.

Ministers of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Krishna Raj and Parshottam Rupala, as also Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and Members of the Consultative Committee were present in the meeting.