Tripura topped among 11 hilly states in fisheries sector

For the first time in the state, the fisheries department has decided to adopt a Lease Policy 2021 for the water bodies of the state, informed the minister of fisheries Mevar Kumar Jamatia in a press conference at the Secretariat on December 13. He said, there are presently 1502 water bodies in Tripura. water bodies were being looked after by different departments such as Panchayat, education, police etc in addition to fisheries department. In order to conserve these water bodies, the present government for the first time in Tripura has adopted Water Bodies Lease Policy 2021.

Fisheries minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia also informed that this year Tripura has ranked top among 11 hilly states in the country for its exemplary work in fisheries sector. In this regard, the Union minister of fisheries awarded Tripura with a prize money of 10 lakh rupees on the occasion of World Fisheries Day on November 21.

He said, various initiatives have been taken to build check dams at different locations in the state through forest. department’s JICA project after the formation of the present government. The initiative of fish farming in these check dams was taken up jointly by the forest. and fisheries department. He also informed that the yearly demand of fish in the state is 25 kg per individual.

In this regard, Tripura is in second position in the country while Andaman and Nicobar Islands topped the list. He said, about 23% of the demand for fish in the state has to be imported from outside. To meet this need, the fisheries department has adopted different plans like cage culture, fish farming through Biofloc and production of fish pollens. The fisheries minister hoped that the state will develop into a self-sufficient state in the next two to three years in fish production.

Secretary of fisheries department Dipa D. Nair shed light on different development plans in the press conference. She said, total 589 Matsya Mitra were recruited all over the state in order to increase fish production. The demand of fish in the state during Covid-19 situation in the markets was in control. Joint director of fisheries department Abani Debbarma was also i present in the press conference.