Kerala to promote export of ornamental fish

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) In a major effort to promote export of ornamental fish, Kerala will set up an "Aqua Technology Park" in Kochi.

"This will be the first park of its kind in India," Kerala Fisheries Minister S Sarma said here today after the clearance was given by the Union Agriculture Ministry to the Rs 9-crore project with the Centre committing to meet 50 per cent of the outlay.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the Centre would soon release Rs 4.5 crore towards its full share of its contribution to the project.

He said the state government had already acquired 12 acres of land near the Nedumbasserry International airport at Kochi.

Giving the details of the project, he said several units within the Park and nearly 5,000 households in different parts of the state would be involved in the hatching of ornamental fish of different varieties.

The park would essentially concentrate on export of ornamental fish, for which there is a huge market world wide.

The Minister said the hurdles in the way of setting up an Oceanarium in Kerala had been overcome. The government had already submitted the feasibility report to the Centre. A meeting of the Centre and the State would be held here on February 5 in this regard.

On the reports about pollution of sea due to use of kerosene engines in fishing boats, Mr Sarma said the government would soon introduce 'gas kits' for fishing vessels. One kit would cost Rs 9, 500, out of which Rs 4000 would be given as subsidy and the remaining amount given as loan by the MATSYAFED, the apex body of fisheries cooperative societies.

Replying to a question, he said the Central clearance for the Thalai fisheries harbour near Kozhikode is expected by the middle of next month.

On the Supreme Court's interim order on monsoon trawling, he said the stand of the Kerala government was that the state governments of coastal states should be given powers to enforce the ban on fishing by trawlers during the monsoon months.

Enforcement of a common monsoon trawling ban for all states would not be advisable as monsoon set in over different states on different days.

Mr Sarma was here to attend a meeting of the National Fisheries Welfare Fund Board. But the meeting was postponed to a later date.

UNI