The State fisheries Departments are engaged in an array of
fisheries developmental activities. In this context, Fishing Chimes
takes the privilege of listing 14 developmental topics to serve the
purpose of looking into the present status of promotion of the
developmental progress for what they are worth:
a) Improvement of productivity both in capture and culture
Fisheries: The present level of Aquaculture productivity in
the county is only 2.5 tonnes /ha on an average which could
be increased further. There is also great opportunity to enhance
the productivity from culture-based capture fisheries resources
such as reservoirs and other wetlands.
• Resource-based approach,/classification of resources into (1)
Capture fisheries based reservoirs, major tanks, (2) small tanks and ponds ideal for semi-intensive aquaculture (3) seasonal and short seasonal tanks – adoption of suitable fish species for
culture in them and which can be harvested within a duration of 4 to 5 months. Development of breeding technology for
such fishes, selection of fish species depending on the consumer
preference such as Labeo bata in West Bengal, Jharkhand and
nearby areas and (4) fish farmer-owned fish farming ponds
where intensive or semi-intensive fish farming is possible.
• Fixing productivity targets for each category of water
resource, based on the management system that can be
adopted, developing appropriate management strategies for
each type of resource, based on the local conditions and
existing leasing and management practices. If required,
region-wise management strategies have to be developed and
practised.
b) Diversification of Aquaculture: Its vertical and
horizontal expansion: Presently only about 14% of the
available area is utilised for brackishwater farming, it is learnt.
India has not as yet started any mariculture activities.
Aquaculture could be expanded to new areas such as waterlogged
areas, saline and alkaline soils and soils unsuitable for
agriculture. It can also be diversified with introduction of new
species and new technologies for promoting intensive
aquaculture systems for enhancement of production.
Diversification of aquaculture into new systems is another
option.
c) Augmentation of supply of fish seed of quality in adequate quantity: The present availability of fish seed is
about 32,000 million fry /annum, while the requirement is to
the tune of 48 billion fry. The quality of seed supplied is also
partly up to the mark. Thus, the gap between demand and
supply of seed is very huge and the gap has to be bridged by
way of promoting adequate supply of quality seed. more
