Aquaculture

A fisherman hailing from Odisha’s Paradeep created waves in the Digha fish market, Jaleswar, Balasore district, by selling a colossal two-quintal Kavala fish for an astounding sum of Rs 1.27 lakhs. The transaction reportedly took place with a Kolkata-based company securing the purchase, as confirmed by reliable sources.

This remarkable sale follows closely on the heels of another extraordinary event where a massive Bhola fish, weighing over 1 quintal and 10 kg, was sold for an impressive Rs 25,000. Interestingly, this Bhola fish also originated from Balasore, Odisha.

According to reports, fishermen from the Paradeep area embarked on a nighttime fishing expedition, resulting in the capture of the colossal fish in their nets, weighing in at more than 110 kg. Subsequently, they transported their catch to the Digha fish market in West Bengal for sale.

The auction of the enormous fish garnered significant attention, with multiple buyers vying for the prized specimen. Ultimately, a Kolkata-based company known as BBC emerged as the successful bidder, acquiring the fish at a substantial price of Rs 25 thousand. The transactions underscore the lucrative and thriving market for extraordinary catches in the region, showcasing the value placed on these remarkable marine specimens.

Due to the proactive initiatives of the Fisheries Department in the Kashmir Valley, the annual fish production has reached an unprecedented level, steadily increasing with each passing day.

The department reported that the valley witnesses an annual fish production of 20.08 lakh tonnes, while the local consumption stands at 25 lakh tonnes per year. Despite this substantial production, the valley still imports 4 lakh tonnes of fish from outside the state. In a bid to double the production, the LG administration is spearheading new initiatives, including awareness programs designed to attract people, particularly the youth, towards fisheries.

A recent one-day seminar and awareness program held at Zanipora Fish Farm in the Shopian district of South Kashmir aimed to educate unemployed youth and private fish farm holders. The event, attended by Assistant Director of Fisheries Zahoor Ahmed Mir, featured discussions on various schemes offered by the department and modern scientific research related to fish farming.

Mir, the chief guest, urged unemployed youth to embrace self-employment opportunities provided by government schemes, emphasizing that venturing into fish farming could not only lead to personal employment but also create opportunities for others. He encouraged educated youth to explore government-sponsored schemes for better employment prospects instead of solely pursuing government jobs.

The awareness camp highlighted schemes such as carp fish farming initiated in 2004-2005 under the PM package, trout farming in the private sector since 2009 under RKVY, and the National Mission for Protein Supplement (MMPS) in 2011-2012 to promote the fish business in the private sector.

Experts at the camp stressed the importance of implementing these schemes at the grassroots level, ensuring that people are informed and can avail themselves of the opportunities at the right time. The camp also provided insights into modern fish farming methods.

Youth engaged in fish farming expressed gratitude for the support received from the Fisheries Department and reported profitable returns from their ventures. They called on other unemployed youth to explore self-employment opportunities and benefit from the available schemes. The overall success of these initiatives signifies a positive trend towards sustainable fish farming and economic empowerment in the region.

Image Source`

Rajasthan government has sanctioned a Rs 2 crore project, greenlighted by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, aimed at providing free fish seeds to 20,000 farmers. Each farmer or water pond (diggi) will receive 1,000 fingerlings of prominent Indian carp varieties, including rohu, catla, and mrigal. This initiative, outlined in the Budget for 2023-24, recently secured financial approval.

Training sessions on fisheries will be conducted at the district level for selected farmers to ensure effective utilization of the provided fish seeds. Rajasthan boasts extensive water bodies covering approximately 430,000 hectares, complemented by about 70 rivers and canals spanning around 30,000 hectares. Over the past three decades, the state has witnessed consistent growth in inland fisheries.

While Rajasthan currently ranks 18th in fish output, the area dedicated to fish culture and production has experienced a noteworthy increase. Large reservoirs contribute about 60% of the total fish production, with tanks and ponds making up the remainder. The productivity of these reservoirs exceeds the national average at 55 kg per hectare.

In line with the commitment to fisheries development, Chief Minister Gehlot had announced the establishment of the Brackish Water Aquaculture Laboratory in Churu district during this year’s Budget speech. Ongoing efforts are in progress to materialize this initiative.

The government is actively promoting innovations in tribal sub-plan areas, focusing on livelihood creation for tribal fishermen in regions such as Jaisamand Dam in Udaipur, Kadana backwater in Dungarpur, and Mahi Bajaj Sagar in Banswara. These efforts underscore the commitment to sustainable fisheries practices and economic empowerment in the state.

In a move that has raised concerns in India’s seafood sector, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has proposed the India Shrimp Tariff Act, aiming to impose duties on shrimp imports from India. The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), representing shrimp industry stakeholders in eight warm-water shrimp-producing U.S. states, has expressed support for the proposal.
Frozen shrimp, constituting nearly 70 percent of India’s seafood exports, achieved a record $8.09 billion in FY23, with the United States being the largest market for Indian seafood, predominantly shrimp.

Senator Cassidy alleges that highly subsidized Indian aquaculture shrimp accounts for 40 percent of all shrimp imports into the U.S., impacting the local shrimp industry, which now represents less than 10 percent of the shrimp consumed in the country. The proposed India Shrimp Tariff Act suggests a phased imposition of duties, starting at 10 percent in 2024, escalating to 20 percent in 2025, and reaching 40 percent from 2026 onwards, mirroring India’s duty rate on shrimp imports.
SSA Executive Director John Williams has welcomed the proposal, seeking support from other senators, citing what he perceives as unaddressed unfair trade practices by Indian shrimp exporters.

President of the All India Shrimp Hatcheries Association (AISHA), Ravi Kumar Yellanki, has urged the Indian government to respond proactively to counter potential challenges. However, the Seafood Exporters Association of India President Jagdish V Fofandi remains cautious, adopting a “wait and watch” policy.

The seafood industry has argued against the notion of heavy subsidies in aquaculture, with D Ramraj, past president of AISHA, asserting that subsidies available to Indian shrimp farmers are comparable to other aquaculture shrimp-producing nations.

Senator Cassidy’s claims also extend to the environmental and social sustainability of Indian shrimp aquaculture, citing issues such as deforestation, the use of banned antibiotics, and child labor. The proposed India Shrimp Tariff Act includes provisions to eliminate the exemption of cooked shrimp from the requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements.

As the proposal unfolds, concerns are voiced over its potential impact on the consumption of value-added Indian shrimps in the U.S. Moreover, this development comes at a challenging time for India’s seafood exports, with a downturn in FY23 due to poor demand and low prices in major importing markets such as the U.S., China, and Europe. Stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation as the industry faces potential disruptions and explores strategies to navigate the changing trade landscape.

Image source