Port Blair, Nov. 21: As part of the celebration of World Fisheries Day-2022, the Department of Fisheries organized a technical workshop on ‘Fisheries & Aquaculture Development in A&N Islands’ and felicitation session to recognize the best performed Fishers/Fish Farmers/Fish Vendors/Entrepreneurs /Fish processors and Field officials of Fisheries Department in the conference hall of Industries Department today. The Secretary Fisheries, A&N Administration, Shri G. Sudhakar was the chief guest on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Secretary Fisheries said Fisheries sector has huge potential in A&N Islands especially in Long Line Tuna fishing, Mud Crab Culture and Seaweed Culture etc. Public Sector Units and Private Companies have expertise and the Department of Fisheries will put its best efforts to transfer this expertise to local farmers of these Islands for their welfare economic growth, he said.  The Secretary while greeting the fishermen community on the occasion of World Fisheries Day further informed that local fish farmers of these Islands will be identified and they will be trained at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture and NIOT Port Blair so that they can start their own self venture by availing various schemes of Fisheries Department. He said that the Fisheries Department will act as a coordinator to facilitate subsidy and bank loan aspects to enable the fishermen to become an entrepreneur.

The Secretary, Fisheries also felicitated the beneficiaries who have started their self- ventures by availing different schemes of Govt. of India.

In his address, the Director Fisheries, Shri Harminder Singh while informing about the gathering about the significance of the Day said to celebrate this day a two-day Island Seafood festival is also being organized at Corbyn’s Cove. Referring to the workshop, he said the fishermen community will be able to know more about the advancement taking place in fisheries sector and methods of fishing. He also welcomed the chief guest and others present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Zonal Director Fishery Survey of India, Port Blair Base, Dr. M. Vinod Kumar enlightened the gathering about the significance of the Day and the technology advancement taking place in the field of Fisheries while Dr. Vineet Kumar, NIOT Dollygunj informed the gathering about the activities of NIOT with special emphasis on Fish Cage Culture and urged the farmers to take up fish cage culture.

Shri U Maheshwar Rao, Member of Governing Body, urged the fishermen to come forward to avail benefits of different schemes/ components available under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.

In the felicitation ceremony for South Andaman District, Smt. Madhabi Biswas received the award for Best Freshwater Aquaculture Farmer while D. Potaiah received the award for Best Brackishwater Aquaculture Farmer. Smt. Y. Dilleshwari got the Best Fish Vendor award, M.S Dharmalingam got the award for best Entrepreneur in Fisheries sector and M/s Era Fishery Products got the award for best Fish Processing Enterprises.

Similarly, in North & Middle Andaman District, Smt. Vijaya Biswas received the award for Best Freshwater Aquaculture Farmer while B. Rajesh received the award for Best Brackishwater Aquaculture Farmer. Smt.  Dhanalaxmi got the Best Fish Vendor award. In Nicobar District, Shri Ameen of Kamorta got the best Fish Vendor award.

Later, during the technical workshop, presentations were made by different fisheries organizations and Coast Guard A&N Region. Dr. R. Kirubasankar, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIARI was the moderator for the concluding session. Dr. K. Gopal Joint Director, Department of Fisheries proposed the vote of thanks at the end.