Inland fish catch likely to witness significant jump this year

NT NETWORK

 

PANAJI

The state’s inland fish catch from rivers, estuaries, lakes and other water bodies is likely to witness a significant jump in the current year, according to officials of the fisheries department.

The officials, on Friday, said that production of inland fish varieties in 2018 is expected to be considerably higher than 5,332 tonne, which was recorded in 2017.

The annual increase in production during the year is likely to top 21 per cent registered in 2017, added a senior official.

Inland fish production in the state comprises fish captured by fishermen plying canoes and through culture fisheries started by the locals.

“While the outcome of captured fishing is not predictable, we are more certain of the production from cultured fishing,” said the official.

He said that, several fish farm projects have been commissioned in 2017 and yield from them will drive production in the current year. Altogether five fish farm projects were commissioned, of which two are mussel farms and three are fresh water farms for varieties such as rohu, katla and pangasius or bassa.

Inland fish include varieties such as lady fish (muddoshi), cat fish (sangot), betki (channok) mullets (shevto), lepo, crabs, prawns, clams such as tisrio, kurlio, kalwam (oysters), etc.

Although during the monsoon months, inland fishing reaches its peak, but the catch actually is throughout the year.

In 2017, a substantial increase in output was witnessed in prawns, mullets, cat fish, oysters and crabs. Demand for inland fish varieties is robust from the locals, and reflected in surging price of the varieties.

Inland fish catch is a small component of the total fish catch in the state.

In 2017, of the 1,25,762 tonne of fish caught, 1,20,430 tonne was from marine fishing and 5,332 tonne from inland waters.

There are several financial incentives for setting up of brackish water aquaculture farms – the incentives range from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh.

In addition, assistance by way of subsidy is also provided for repairs of the farms. With rough seas and fishing ban curtailing the availability of marine fish, the demand for inland varieties has increased these days.

Local varieties of fish in the market are sold quickly, according to vendors.

The fishing is carried out in lakes, rivers, estuaries and low-lying areas filled with water. Inland aquaculture is being encouraged by the fisheries department to boost the supply.