Fisheries sector needs Aqua Chamber of Commerce

Experts addressed various issues related to fisheries and aquaculture at Fishetech 23

Financial literacy is lacking in the Indian fishing industry. To address all the problems of the fisheries sector there should be an Aqua Chamber of Commerce, which will helpful for governance and policy-related fisheries, Dr S. N. Ojha, Principal Scientist of CIFE, said at a workshop in Fishetech 23. He was speaking on Finance and Credit for blue transformation. He said an Aqua Chamber of Commerce will help literate fishermen or fish farmers regarding financial issues. Chamber will also address governance issues in the fishing industry.

Prakash Dash General Manager of NABARD said, like agricultural farmers for fish farmers Kisan credit card has been introduced on which fish farmers can take out loans from banks. He also said India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector is required proper skill development. Indian fisheries sector also faces a few challenges like a lack of market chain and cold storage chain. Climate change is also one of the challenges due to which the fishing industry has been affected.  

Dr K.K. Krishnani, Principal Scientist of CIFE, while addressing Improving technology intervention in aquaculture and culture base fisheries for doubling farmer’s income, said an integrated approach in fish farming is required. Integrated farming techniques are more benefice for the fishermen’s community.   

Prasad Karnik an expert in aquaculture stated, besides fish farming, fish farmers should concentrate on algae farming. Algae farming is also profitable farming but in India, there is a lack of awareness about algae farming.   

On Alternative Livelihood through Mangrove Conservation, Sushant Sanaye, Executive Director, Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation of Maharashtra said, with shrimp farming crab farming, oyster and mussels farming and marine ornaments fish farming is also possible. He said this type of integrated farming is possible in the mangrove forest area in Maharashtra. In coastal districts of Maharashtra like Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg few fishermen are doing these types of farming with shrimp farming. These are value-added products are benefited, fishermen or farmers. Mangrove-based eco-tourism is also possible in the mangrove forest area, he added.  

To reach out to the various schemes for fishermen and farmers government has introduced the Sagarmitra program, the government has launched various schemes for fishermen but they are not aware of those schemes. To make aware of those schemes, the government has launched the Sagarmitra program, said Deepa Suman, Senior Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board at a workshop. She was speaking on Institutional Finance and Credit to the fisheries Sector. She said, the renovation of fish farms in the different states also going on so fishermen can get benefit from it.

Experts addressed various issues related to fisheries