Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian distributes welfare measures to fishermen, joined by Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Assembly Speaker R. Selvam, and Ministers K. Lakshminarayanan and P. R. N. Thirumurugan | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Union Minister of State for fisheries George Kurian on Tuesday launched a slew of fisheries development projects in Karaikal under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
The event, held at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Karaikal, also saw the distribution of financial assistance to fishermen and the signing of agreements for infrastructure and livelihood enhancement across Puducherry’s coastal region.
The launch included initiatives such as artificial reef installation in four locations, a ₹2-crore integrated fisheries facility at Pattinacherry village, groundwork for climate-resilient housing, selection orders for subsidised boats, ice boxes, engines, and safety equipment, and foundation laying for a ₹4-crore overhead water tank at Thiruppattinam village. MoUs were signed with IIT-Madras for harbour modelling and with CMFRI for integrated seaweed-cage culture pilot studies.
The event was presided over by Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan. Puducherry Assembly Speaker R. Selvam, Ministers K. Lakshminarayanan and P. R. N. Thirumurugan, Fisheries Secretary D. Manikandan, Fisheries Director Mohamed Ismail, along with several senior officials and representatives from 11 coastal fisher panchayats, also participated in the event.
Mr. Kurian in his address lauded Puducherry’s fish catch of 47,012 metric tonnes in the past year and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to supporting coastal livelihoods. Pointing to national growth, he said India’s fish production had risen from 95 lakh tonnes in 2014 to 184 lakh tonnes at present, and exports had doubled from ₹30,000 crore to ₹60,000 crore. “The target is to reach ₹1 lakh crore in fish exports,” he noted.
In his address, Mr. Kailashnathan highlighted the proposed use of ISRO’s satellite data to help fishermen locate fish-rich zones and enhance maritime safety. He also emphasised the need for sustainable fishing practices, including the deployment of artificial reefs and reducing the dependence on ecologically harmful trawling methods.
Published - April 16, 2025 07:20 pm IST
