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Meet lays stress on the need for judicious fishing

Photo: T. Singaravelou

Conserve resources: P. Nammazhvar Rajan, project leader, INCOIS, speaking at a workshop on judicious fishing in Puducherry on Friday. —

PUDUCHERRY: Speakers at a meeting on Friday stressed the need for adopting judicious fishing methods even while enhancing fish production and increasing the standard of living of the fishermen who remained as one of the socio-economically weaker sections of society.

Project leader of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) P. Nammalwar Rajan, who spoke on ‘Marine biodiversity and coastal resource management’ at the workshop on judicious fishing held by the Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS), referred to the rules formulated by the Food and Agricultural Organisation in this regard at Rome in 1995.

In the marine fishery sector, the resources in the inshore areas had been overexploited, whereas the offshore and deep-sea resources were yet to be tapped to the optimum level, he said.

The focus should be on encouraging the fisherfolk to exploit the under-ultilised fishery resources and to reduce fishing pressure in the inshore areas.

Augmenting aquatic resource production in the inshore areas through conservation measures, stock enhancement and installation of artificial reefs were among the thrust areas, he added.

Mr. Nammalwar Rajan also called for steps to promote sustainable and eco-friendly marine aquaculture practices. Strengthening the infrastructure for fish landing and marketing as per Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and European Union norms had also become important, he pointed out.

Steps to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the fisherfolk through welfare measures and by generating employment opportunities for them, modify the present fisheries legislations to suit the requirements of the fisher folk and give an impetus to marine ornamental fish culture and deep-sea fishing were among the other objectives for marine fisheries development in India, he said.

He also stressed the need for conducting awareness programmes on Tuna fisheries and financial assistance for conversion of vessels to suit the fishing operation.

As part of efforts to enhance inshore fishery resources, the Tamil Nadu government had sanctioned Rs.128.40 lakh to stock 15-20 day post-larvae seeds at 12 places in five coastal districts in the State, he said.

Rev.Fr.R.Ratchagar and Rev.Fr.Albert Thambidurai, Executive Director and Assistant Director of PMSSS also spoke on the issue.

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