MANGALURU
Karnataka Budget for 2025-26 proposed to formulate a new fisheries policy.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the policy will be framed to ensure the protection of fishery resource in the State and to encourage sustainable fishing and economic development of fishermen.
He said the present limit for fishing boat length will be relaxed to encourage deep-sea fishing. But he did not elaborate on the same.
Sources in fisheries sector said that now boats with 20 m length and fitted with 350 HP motor are allowed for deep sea fishing.
The Cheif Minister said that a multi-level parking facility will be constructed under the public private partnership (PPP) model to manage vehicular congestion at Malpe fishing harbour.
To enhance the skill levels in fisheries sector of the State, the prescribed student strength for College of Fisheries in Mangaluru will be doubled, he said adding that fishing link roads in the coastal districts will be developed with the assistance from NABARD at a cost of ₹30 crore.
He said that 50% financial assistance or up to ₹3 lakh will be provided to select fish vendors belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) /Scheduled Tribes (ST) for the purchase of four-wheeler vehicles.
For purchase of new engines to replace old engines which are more than 15 years old in registered motorised fishing boats, financial assistance of 50% or up to ₹1 lakh will be provided.
Water transport
He said that the State has a lot of possibilities for the development in Water Transport Sector. To help developmental projects, Karnataka Water Transport Policy has been approved already. “Our government is committed to provide systematic infrastructure and management of boating activities in the coastal region. A detail action plan will be prepared for international cruise, water metro, coastal berth programmes in Mangaluru, construction of port in Manki and shipyard in Honnavar of Uttara Kannada district and other river tourism activities.”
He said that a Water Transport Museum and Experience Centre will be set up at Mangaluru and its management will be taken up on PPP mode.
Tackling sea erosion
Shoreline Management Plan has been prepared through IIT-Chennai to comprehensively tackle the effects of sea-erosion. A detail project report will be prepared separately in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada to implement the Shoreline Management Plan. The works related to prevention of sea-erosion will be taken up in phases as per the report and ₹200 crore will be spent under the National Calamity Mitigation Fund. (EOM)
Published - March 07, 2025 07:42 pm IST
