After fish and prawn, turtle breeding will also be started in Madhya Pradesh now for export to other countries. This was informed by Fishermen’s Welfare and Fisheries Development Minister Kusum Mahdele at 2-day state level Fishermen’s Convention here on Tuesday. Fisheries experts, members of fisheries cooperative societies and fishermen were present on the occasion.
Mahdele directed to undertake concrete steps to preserve near-extinct varieties of fish. She urged veteran traditional fishermen to identify and save such endangered fish species. Mahdele informed that 136 varieties of fish have been identified as endangered, but in fact there are over 1000 species. She said that the State Government is working to safeguard larger interests of fishermen. Musclemen and contractors acting against fishermen’s interests will be kept away from reservoirs.
Mahdele also described fishermen’s role as important in helping the State get Krishi Karman Award twice.
She said the work on Nile Revolution should done speedily for fisheries development in the state. Investors were also informed about the scheme to export canned fish products. She said that in the Vision Document-2018, a target has been set to produce 1.45 lakh MT fish. She also gave away cheques under various schemes to fishermen.
Principal Secretary Fishermen’s Welfare Saleena Singh gave various important sets of information about fish production, subsidy for houses of fishermen, accident insurance scheme etc.
Earlier, Managing Director of Fisheries Federation UK Subuddhi, Director Fisheries UK Purohit, Secretary Pradeep Neekhra and representatives of societies welcomed Mahdele. She released a book on schemes for fishermen’s welfare. Experts delivered lectures at the symposium and gave replies to fishermen’s questions.