VP to launch ornamental fisheries plan in Lakshadweep

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will release a strategic action plan for the ornamental fisheries sector on Monday, as the Government pushes to expand fish farming and exports from the Lakshadweep islands.

The plan, called ‘Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031’, will set uniform rules for breeding, biosecurity, quality control and trade across India’s ornamental fish industry, the fisheries ministry said in a statement. The launch event in Agatti will be attended by Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, junior minister SP Singh Baghel, and Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel, along with fish farmers, fishers and Government officials.

India has a coastline of about 11,099 km, an exclusive economic zone of roughly 2.4 million sq km, with marine fisheries potential estimated at 5.86 million tonnes, the ministry said. The sector supports about 5 million fishers and generated seafood exports worth 738.9 billion rupees in the fiscal year that ended in March.