Kerala - Kochi   

India International Aqua Show begins in Kochi

KOCHI: The oceanarium mooted at Puthuvype and the proposed aqua-technology park at Aluva will generate large-scale employment in the State’s marine sector and provide a boost to the economy, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

“The oceanarium will be set up with Central help and will be the first of its kind in India. A marine biological research station too will be set up nearby and these will become tourist attractions,” he said, after inaugurating the fourth edition of the India International Aqua Show at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here on Friday.

The show will conclude on Tuesday.

The aqua-technology park would have satellite units at Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Malappuram and Kannur. Backyard hatcheries would be opened in select villages. The park would give direct employment to 5,000 people and many more stand to benefit indirectly. Financially poor women would benefit tremendously from this. Aimed at the export market, the help of experts would be sought for ensuring quality, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan said that Kerala had hitherto been unable to tap the potential to commercially cultivate ornamental fishes, though the State had a climate favourable for this. “Kerala is now dependent on Tamil Nadu for ornamental fishes. There is need to increase its cultivation and export.”

The chief guest of the function, Maldives Fisheries Minister Hussain Hilmy said the aqua show became yet another opportunity to consolidate good neighbourly relations between his country and India.

Delivering the presidential address, Fisheries Minister S. Sarma said the State Cabinet had given in-principle clearance for the aqua-tech park and a company had been registered with the Chief Minister as chairman.

Fisheries Principal Secretary P. Prabhakaran said the ornamental fish trade was a multi-billion industry worldwide and had got the potential to generate plenty of jobs. Matsyafed Chairman V.V. Saseendran said the ornamental fisheries sector threw up immense possibilities in the State.

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