Amaravati: Andhra State plans big push for fisheries promotion

Amaravati: The state government is planning to give a major push to the fisheries sector by improving infrastructure and technology for inland and marine fisheries and aquaculture to raise production.

The state government, which will be unveiling its mega plans on World Fisheries Day on Thursday, proposes to develop fishing harbours and jetties for hygienic landing of marine catch, tap deep sea fishery resources, dredge river mouths for easier passage of vessels, and promote marine cage farming and implement fishermen welfare schemes, among others, officials said on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will announce a number of sops to the fisherfolk under Matsyakara Nestam at Kakinada on Thursday.

Andhra Pradesh is already the largest producer of fish and prawns in the country and contributes 40 percent of India's total marine exports value. Fisheries contribute 7.4 percent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and provide employment to 14.5 lakh people.

The YSRCP government feels that over the past few years marine and inland fisheries in the state suffered due to lack of sustained attention by the earlier governments as well as factors such as dwindling catch, no value addition and processing, increased pollution and climate change, lack of diversification of species and diseases.

"The previous TDP government had given permission to set up pharma companies in the hatchery zones in East Godavari District, which are polluting the sea in that zone. In our action plan, once an area is declared as a hatchery zone, no other industries will be given permission in that area," said Fisheries Minister Mopidevi Venkatramana Rao.