A seminar on Conservation of Fisheries Resources, held in Kochi, Kerala, India, has proposed to form model fish villages to increase the aquaculture production.
In order to improve the fisheries sector, diversified fish farming practices should also be given importance instead of concentrating only on marine capture fisheries, the seminar observed.
The seminar was organised by Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies.
KUFOS Vice Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup said that each village in the State should have projects on fish farming effectively utilising the inland water resources.
Our villages should be self-reliant in aquaculture. We are yet to exploit the highly prospective inland fishery resources of the State. At a time when marine fisheries are in a deteriorating condition due to many reasons, we have to focus more on inland aquaculture, he said.
According to Kurup, the country should emulate the model adopted by China to increase its aquaculture production. There are 30,000 fish villages in China and these villages are playing a pivotal role in boosting the fish production there.
Gopakumar, former Deputy Director General of ICAR, said global warming was taking a toll on fishery resources. The pelagic fishes like sardine, mackerel and anchovies are very sensitive to sea water temperature. If global warming goes up unabated, these fish resources will be depleted in the Indian coasts.
2015, The Hindu Business Line