'Strategies should be formed to boost production in fisheries, aquaculture'

KOCHI: Doubling the income of fish farmers is the major challenge to be met by fisheries experts in India, observed delegates attending the 11th Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (IFAF) being held in Kochi. They have also called for better dissemination mechanism for aquaculture technologies and best practices for reaching out to aqua farmers.The major threats to the coastal fisheries sector such as the increase in fishing intensity, declining stocks, inappropriate exploitation pattern and habitat degradation were discussed at the conference on Thursday.

Experts are of the opinion strategies should be formulated to boost production and sustain growth by introducing fuel-efficient and resources specific craft and gear, eco-friendly and responsible fishing techniques for EEZ, post-harvest value addition, waste utilisation and by-products from un-conventional fish species, biomedical, pharmaceutical and industrial products from aquatic organisms and expansion of domestic and international marketing network.

Speakers on the third day of the conference included Yew-Hu Chein, J K Sundaray, G Gopakumar, Gopal Krishna, A K Singh, K Sunil Mohammed, Kenny Thomas and V Sudershan Rao.Kerala's initiative in marine fisheries regulation was lauded at the conference. ''The state is in the forefront of drafting new regulations in line with the Indian Marine Fisheries Code, the detailed plan to implement the FAO-Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in India," said experts. 

"The state has recently implemented minimum legal sizes for commercially exploited 58 species to prevent overfishing.  Amendments in fisheries regulation act (KMFRA) were introduced to govern the overcapacity by controlling boat building yards as well as input controls on fishing gears and net making factories.  

A Law was enacted to set fisheries governance through three-tiered fisheries management councils. These transformations in the last few years are heralding a sea change in the way in which fisheries resources can be sustainably managed. Some of these changes are models for other maritime states to emulate and follow as well," they said.  IFAF,  a triennial international conference, will conclude on Friday. The conference was inaugurated by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday.