Reservoir Fisheries development scheme inaugurated

The state government's innovative Rs 1.1 crore 'Reservoir Fisheries Development Scheme' to help fishermen took off on the banks of Krishna river in Vijayawada on Monday with city mayor T Sakuntala releasing 10 lakh fish seedlings into the reservoir.

About 40-45 lakh more seedling will be released in Krishna river here in the next two days.

Raghottama Swamy, joint director, State Commissinerate of Fisheries, which organised the scheme inaugural, told Business Standard that 400 lakh fish seedlings would be released into 23 select reservoirs in 16 districts, every day in one reservoir, this month to help licensed fishermen. The scheme would generate 30,000 tonne of fish worth Rs 60 crore. The programme would be repeated every year

He said the reservoirs included the two sides of Krishna river, Nagarjuna Sagar, Sriramsagar, Srisailam, Nizamsagar, Somasila, Lower Maneru, Singhur, Pochavaram, Dindi, Cuddapah backwaters and BT project in Anantapur.

He said fishermen were deprived of their livelihood as reservoirs in the state dried up due to drought for four years. The government conceived the scheme to rehabilitate them. The scheme would restore livelihood for about 13,000 fishermen families.

He said the fishermen societies, though hold licences, lack knowledge about stocking of fish seed. Release of fish seedlings in the reservoir would raise the present level of per capita fish catch from 30 kg to 150 kg per hectare and will also help in generating brooding stock and auto generation of fish seed.

He said district fish seed stock committees had been set up with the district fisheries officer, leaders of district fishermen and local fishermen cooperative societies, MRO and all elected representatives of people.

Fisheries development officers of the department would help and guide fishermen in stocking fish seedlings and their rearing.