Law to regulate fish auction and sales: Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma

The new law will be applicable to seas, lakes and inland fishing sectors, while the fine against catching juvenile fish will remain
Railway and Food Safety Department Officers conducting raid on fish consignments at North railway station in Ernakulam on Tuesday. The samples were found to be clear of formalin | A SANESH
Railway and Food Safety Department Officers conducting raid on fish consignments at North railway station in Ernakulam on Tuesday. The samples were found to be clear of formalin | A SANESH

KOLLAM: The state government plans to streamline the fish auction and sales along with quality regulation through a law, said Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma. She was speaking after inaugurating the National Fish Farmers’ Day at CSI Convention Centre here on Tuesday. The minister said the new law will be applicable for seas, lakes and other inland fishing sectors.

Mercykutty Amma, who introduced tough action against catching juvenile fish for the fertiliser industry, reiterated her stand against the practice. The department has collected `2 crore as fine against catching juvenile fish. Mercykutty Amma said efforts will be taken to expand fish farming in the state.

At present, only 20 per cent of the 68,000 hectares of water bodies in the state cultivates fish. “Pisciculture will be tried as an intercrop in more areas. We will focus on measures to protect the cultivation along with the expansion,” she said. She asked local bodies to come forward in promoting fish farming. According to her, the plan for increasing the number of Matsya Bhavans was under active consideration.

“We can ensure the quality of fish seeds by enacting the Seed Act. Seeds from outside the state will be scrutinised for quality,” she said. As part of promoting fish farming in the state, fish meal factories will be set up at Kollam and Kannur to address the shortage of fish meal and to give more jobs. She said the construction for the factory at Kannur had begun. The government plans to increase fish production to 80,000 t o n n e s . N K Premachandran MP and Fisheries director S Venkatesapathy spoke.

Awards for farmers

The minister distributed awards for best fish farmers in the state at the function. Chirakkara grama panchayat, Kollam, was recognised for its outstanding performance in inland fisheries. Pradeep Jacob, of Tiruvalla, has bagged the award for the best freshwater fish farmer. Lyju Johnny, of Mala, received the best brackish water fish farmer award and P K Sukumaran, of Thrissur, won the award for the best shrimp farmer. B Siddique, of Perumathura, won the award for the best aquaculture promoter. Jolly Varkey, of Thodupuzha, won the state award for adopting modern methods of aquaculture. All the awards, except the one for best aquaculture promoter, carry a cash prize of D50,000, a citation, and plaque.

20% of 68,000 hectares of water bodies cultivates fish

D2cr collected as fine against catching juvenile fish

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