Strategic plan needed for Marine and Inland Fisheries

Mangalore, Dec 20 (UNI) Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Science University (KVAFSU) Vice Chancellor Dr R N Srinivasa Gowda today stressed the need for evolving a strategic plan for sustainable development of marine and inland fisheries and aqua culture keeping in view the ecological balance system.

Speaking after inaugurating a two-day International Symposium on "Sustainable Fisheries Development for Food and Health Security" here, he said that according to an estimation the demand in the country would be 10 million tonnes of fish annually by 2020. But the annual fish production in the country at present was six million tonnes of these inland fishing contribute about 3.2 million tonnes while the rest 2.9 million tonnes by the marine fisheries. This has called for urgent steps to double the production in 16 years time as directed by the Centre, he added.

Dr Gowda said that growth of inland fishing was at present 10 per cent whereas the marine was less than one per cent per year which called for suitable sustained efforts with proper strategic plans fisheries sector which was one of the progressive and promising sector of our country contributing Rs 10,555 Crore to the national income which was 1.4 per cent of the total GDP, he added.

He said that India ranked fourth largest producer of fish in the world and second largest producer of fresh water fish after China.

It was also an important source of livelihood for large section of population having direct employment to 6.7 million people. Due to over exploitation, there was depletion of our fish stocks. Hence our policy towards fish resource utilisation should be based on ecosystem approach and dependence on natural fish stocks which should be on the principle of maintenance and establishment of healthy population of target species and maintenance of effective fisheries management systems and integrity of ecosystem, he added.

Mr Gowda also called for intensifying efforts to grow fish without using fish meal and use of vegetables proteins in compound feeds would also favour agriculture which would avoid depletion of marine fish resources. He also stressed the need for creation of awareness about misuse of antibiotics in all sectors including aqua culture. While several commercial vaccines were available in salmon and trout aqua culture industry, it was matter of concern that no commercial vaccines were currently available for Asian carp aqua culture industry. In this view, there was need for focusing on application of modern biotechnology based vaccines for warm water fish and develop alternatives to antibiotics, he added.

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