Discussions were held on the development of the fisheries sector and the sustainable harnessing of fisheries resources available in the country

Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India organised a webinar on ’Promotion of Inland Saline Water Aquaculture’. This was the eighth webinar in the series being part of celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. 

The event was presided over by Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India (GoI) and attended by more than 100 participants including DoF officials of GoI and States/UTs, scientists from ICAR fisheries institutes and faculty of state agriculture, veterinary and fisheries universities, entrepreneurs, fish farmers, hatchery owners, and other stakeholders from the aquaculture industry.

The webinar began with the welcome address by IA Siddiqui, Fisheries Development Commissioner, DoF along with an introduction of the theme of the webinar and the panellists, Swain, Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), Dr J Balaji, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries) in DoF, Jose Antony, Scientist, NGRC, Gujarat of ICAR-CIBA and other participants. 

Swain discussed the development of the fisheries sector and the sustainable harnessing of fisheries resources available in the country. 

Mehra highlighted the present status and potential of aquaculture in saline waters available in the northern states of Haryana, Panjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. He also highlighted the importance of species diversification, disposal of waste saline water, trained manpower for shrimp culture for sustainable inland saline water aquaculture.

Dr Balaji mentioned the importance of quality seed, entrepreneurship model, organic shrimp aquaculture and zonation with all the requisite support infrastructure for sustainable development of saline aquaculture in these four northern states. 

Antony made a comprehensive presentation on ‘Promotion on Inland Saline Water Aquaculture’ and emphasised on status, issues and future of inland saline water aquaculture in the fisheries sector.

The webinar concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr SK Dwivedi, Assistant Commissioner, DoF.