Special emphasis on fisheries development in NE under 11th Plan

Barapani, May 5 (UNI) Special emphasis would be laid on fisheries development in the North Eastern region in the 11th Ten Year Plan to make use of the water resources in the region.

The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) has identified the region as one of the hot spots of freshwater biodiversity apart from Uttaranchal and the Gulf of Mannar.

''There is a need of increasing focus on development of fisheries here. A number of initiatives will be taken up during the 11th Ten Year Plan period,'' NBFGR Director Dr W S Lakra said at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) here today.

He was addressing the inaugural session of a workshop on ''Fish Germplasm Exploration, Cataloguing and Conservation for North East Region: New Initiatives''.

''The basic aim would be to develop new linkages in the sector to increase fish production in the region. Steps would be taken to explore aquatic microbial diversity of the region and document the indigenous knowledge on the issue,'' Dr Lakra said.

''A network of fisheries research will also be developed for the region under the 11th Plan,'' he said.

The NBFGR has divided the eight North Eastern states into eight zones on the basis of geographical and socio-economic compatibility.

Groups have been formed in each zone to assess aquatic resources, take up mass awareness campaigns and conserve the endangered species.

ICAR (Barapani) Director Dr K M Bujarbaruah said the region was lagging behind in fish production despite having abundant water resources.

''While the annual demand of fish in the region is 3.08 to 3.09 lakh metric tonne, we have produced only 2.06 to 2.08 lakh metric tonnes,'' he said.

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