The three-day 'Bengal Fish Fest 2019', organised by state Fisheries Department, began here Friday to make the people aware the achievement of the state government in this area where the state was a front-runner, Fisheries Minister Chandra Nath Sinha said.
West Bengal has a tremendous potential in the fisheries sector ranking second in fish and first in fish seed production in the country, Sinha said at the inaugural function of the festival.
The minister said 'Bengal Fish Fest' gives a platform for showcasing the improvement in fish production, existing policies and those policies that are in the pipeline.
On employment potential of the sector, Sinha said the youth is being motivated to come into fish farming and exporting, thereby boosting employment in the state.
The state is also looking into the possibility of revival of certain variety of fishes and crabs, the minister said adding women members of self help groups are also being encouraged to start working in allied sectors such as handicrafts from fish scales, fish fillet making and so on.
Mooting for the creating a hub of Hilsa trade in West Bengal, Sinha said, "If Norway and Australia can build such a large scale industry on Salmon, why cant Bengal do the same in Hilsa?"
Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr Ravi Inder Singh, said the fisheries sector has improved over the last seven-eight years.
The three-day festival had stalls put up by stakeholders from the fisheries sector projecting modern technologies, different varieties of fish feed, ornamental fish apart from a large number of food stalls by leading food chains.
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