Fisheries Minister shifts focus to welfare programmes for fishermen in Kerala

Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor has directed the department to shift away from its enforcement focus and prioritise welfare programmes for fishermen, signalling a policy reorientation at a time when the sector seeks greater government support.

Speaking at a district-level review meeting of the Fisheries and Harbour Engineering departments at Ponnani, Gafoor announced plans to fill key vacancies and strengthen the department's operations in Malappuram, which has a 70-km coastline.

New production units at Veliyankode

The Minister inaugurated a live fish vending centre, a recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS) and biofloc units at the Matsyafed shrimp seed production centre at Veliyankode near Ponnani. The facilities are designed to expand inland fish farming using modern techniques.

The live fish vending kiosk will enable consumers to purchase live snakehead and tilapia raised in ponds. The RAS and biofloc units require limited water and allow fish to be harvested within six months, with the centre targeting an annual production of about 10 tonnes.

Cold storage facility commissioned

Gafoor also inaugurated a five-tonne-capacity cold storage facility at Ponnani Harbour, constructed at a cost of ₹30 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.

The government plans to increase fish production in inland water bodies and other suitable locations in the coming years, he said.

Consultation demand

MLA K.P. Noushad Ali, who presided over the inauguration, said the rights of fishermen must be protected and that elected representatives and local stakeholders should be informed and consulted before projects are implemented. He criticised the practice of officials and contractors taking decisions and spending funds without consulting local representatives and residents.

Matsyafed chairman T. Manoharan, Perumpadappu block panchayat president Rameena Ismail, Matsyafed governing board member P.P. Saithalavi and ward councillors Ashraf T.K. and U. Muneeb attended the inauguration. The review meeting also examined measures to improve the functioning of the Fisheries and Harbour Engineering departments in the district.

Source: The Hindu