Kerala Boosts Fish Production

Kerala's Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor has instructed the Fisheries department to adopt a welfare-oriented approach towards fishermen. The Minister made the statement on Monday, September 8, during a district-level review meeting of the Fisheries and Harbour Engineering departments at Ponnani.

The district of Malappuram, where the meeting was held, has a 70-km coastline. As part of the government's plans to increase fish production in the state, the Minister inaugurated several facilities to boost inland fish farming and production. These include a live fish vending centre, a recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS), and biofloc units at the Matsyafed shrimp seed production centre at Veliyankode near Ponnani.

A five-tonne-capacity cold storage facility was also inaugurated at Ponnani Harbour, built at a cost of ₹30 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The live fish vending kiosk aims to produce about 10 tonnes of fish a year, while the RAS and biofloc units use limited quantities of water and allow fish to be harvested within six months.

The inauguration of the facilities was presided over by K.P. Noushad Ali, MLA. The government plans to increase fish production in inland water bodies and other suitable locations in the coming years. The live fish vending kiosk will allow consumers to buy live fish such as snakehead and tilapia raised in ponds.

## Why it matters The adoption of a welfare-oriented approach by the Fisheries department is significant, as it marks a shift from the department's traditional role as an enforcement agency. The move is expected to benefit fishermen in the state, particularly in districts like Malappuram with a significant coastline. The new facilities and initiatives are part of the government's efforts to increase fish production and improve the livelihoods of those involved in the fishing industry.