In order to boost fisheries resources in the Chilika lake, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has proposed for ranching of three million tiger prawn (Bagda) seeds (SPF stock) and about two lakh sea bass (Bhekti) seeds (20-25 mm) by October.
The tiger prawn and sea bass seeds would be procured from the RCGA hatcheries at Gopalpur-on-Sea and Chennai, respectively.
This was decided at a meeting of the CDA’s Executive Committee held recently under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary of Forest and Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra.
The executive committee also took several other important decisions relating to development of fisheries.
It was approved to provide financial assistance in form of soft loan of Rs 10 lakh to each Primary Fishermen Cooperative Society under the Chilika Circle with a simple interest of 4 per cent through the CFCCS ltd, Balugaon, against the fixed deposit amounts.
Rs 4 crore from the 13th Finance Commission grant and Rs 2 crore from the State Plan were granted since 2012 for the purpose and placed with MD, CFCCS and ARCS Balugaon.
They are providing finance to the concerned PFCS. Already, some societies have repaid and got the loans sanctioned second time also. This is an ongoing programme.
The CDA Executive Committee recommended to the Government for approval to utilise the interest money to finance the activities of the primary cooperative societies following the same guidelines.
It was also proposed that a Fishery Cooperative Inspector from the Directorate of Fisheries may be brought on deputation to the CDA to monitor the programme.
It was decided to conduct about 60 awareness meetings at important fishing villages of Chilika between September this year and March 2017 with the help of NGOs to campaign for responsible fishing in the outer lead channels between the lake mouth and main water body so as to allow movement of fishes and their juveniles, saline water and sediment from the sea to the Chilika and vice versa.
Patrolling and removal of nets in the demarcated channels would be undertaken during the period.