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Sajeev Kumar V.

KOCHI, Jan. 2

AN independent Ministry for Fisheries at the Centre has been proposed to ensure development in fisheries sector as in the agriculture sector at an international seminar on aquaculture and ornamental fisheries .

In its recommendations the seminar resolved that currently, there was no separate ministry or even a department to manage the fishery economy.

The sector poses several challenges, many of which are insurmountable within the present administrative set up of the Union Government. The fishery sector, which plays a major role in the primary production sector of India's economy, offers tremendous potential in generating employment, earning foreign exchange and in providing assistance to people.

The seminar also recommended conferring shrimp aquaculture the status of agriculture as it is not only been denied the incentives extended to agriculture but also is being curbed from tapping the full potential within the country. Shrimp aquaculture has been categorised as an industry in the CRZ notification and hence it is subjected to all restrictions imposed for industries activities along coastal regulation zones.

A total of 23 recommendations have been made at the two-day seminar which was attended by scientists, policy makers, administrators, traders and farmers from different countries. They discussed the problems and prospects of aquaculture and ornamental fisheries globally and at the national level.

They also envisioned formulations for the sustainable development of aquaculture and ornamental fisheries.

Efforts to achieve regional co-operation among Asian aquaculture countries in the field of transfer of technology, maintenance of quality standards, health management, market operations, biodiversity conservation, environment protection, alerts on disease outbreaks and its transmission etc are required for mutual benefit and development.

While reviewing the aquaculture situation globally, it was noticed that in most of the South Asian countries, the species involved in aquaculture is very limited.

Therefore it is an imperative need to diversify the species mix with a view to catering to varied market demand and to avoid risks of exclusive dependence on a few species. For fulfilling this requirement, the seminar recommended that the indigenous germplasm available in the respective countries might be judiciously harnessed by developing appropriate technologies for captive breeding, seed production and farming practice as well as comprehensive market research.

It was also recommended to frame policies by the Union and State Governments to stop the use of aquaculture drugs in farms taking into account the antibiotic residual problems in seafood.

The potential for recreational and coldwater fisheries in India is very promising and these can contribute to the ecological, economic and cultural development. Sustainable development of these fisheries need clear policies, planning and administrative support from the different departments of the governments such as fisheries, tourism, irrigation, electricity, transport, local bodies and non governmental agencies.

Having understood the backward nature of the Ornamental fish industry in the country, it recommended that the deficiencies in infrastructure be rectified by way of setting up EPZ's in the strategic locations, providing standard hatchery facilities, disease diagnostic centres, legal framework for import of live seed materials, providing marketing arrangement and holding facilities at ports etc.

In view of the heavy depletion of the stock of certain species of ornamental fishes due to indiscriminate exploitation, it was suggested that the focus of the industry should be shifted from capture-based operations to culture-based operations so that the industry could be made sustainable. There is also an imperative need to introduce legislative measures to restrict and regulate wide collection of ornamental fish stocks for domestic and international marketing and for preserving the biodiversity of the country.

For the introduction of new species in the international markets and gain momentum in the ornamental fish trade, a national database incorporating a systematically surveyed germplasm inventory, breeding and rearing technologies and economics of operations in various scales on ornamental fishes has to be developed. Considering the tourism importance of ornamental fishes, aqua parks and oceanaria are to be established in appropriate locations so that tourists can be attracted.

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