State’s fisheries sector yields ₹5,863.9 cr value in last fiscal

Mangaluru: Karnataka has steadily managed to ramp up fish production with its total fish production in 2019-20 in marine fisheries sector valued at Rs 4,032.1 crore and that of inland fisheries at Rs 1,831.8 crore.
The yield in 2019-20 was 4 lakh tonnes and 2 lakh tonnes respectively. The figures place Karnataka fourth among maritime states in terms of marine fish production and ninth overall among states as far as inland fisheries is concerned. Karnataka stands sixth among all Indian states if one combines the fish production in both these sectors, says Ramacharya, director, department of fisheries.
The estimated yield from marine fisheries, mainstay of fishing activity is 6 lakh tonnes, Ramacharya told TOI. Given this is a dynamic resource, state can optimally look to raise its production to up to 5 lakh tonnes, he said, adding the additional catch will be possible only if the fishing ban period is assiduously followed. “We need to give fish species time to spawn and not resort to overkill for the value it brings to the table,” he said.
The continental shelf off Karnataka is productive and helps sustain fishing in the long run unlike European and American continents that grapple on this front. The perennially flowing rivers that join the Sea bring in much needed nutrients, Ramacharya said. If fisher folk adhere to minimum legal size for 19 fish species they harvest and also do not violate the mesh size for the fishing nets, they are bound to reap the benefits in the long run, he said.
Minister for fisheries Kota Shrinivas Poojari said the department has taken up a series of interactive exercises with fisher folk to drive home the point of making fishing a sustainable economic activity in the long run. “We are focussing on inland fisheries as we are on marine fishing,” Poojari said adding emphasis is being laid on cage fishing, increasing fishing activities in reservoir and promoting brackish water fishing as well.