The Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare of the Government of Tamil Nadu released 1.25 lakh fingerlings of native carp fish species into the Cauvery at Mukkombu in Trichy. The initiative, conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), utilizes state government funds to support the local fishing community.
The fingerlings, sourced from rivers and dams such as Mettur dam and Bhavani Sagar dam, include native carp fish species like Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, among others. These fingerlings will be bred in government fish seed production farms located in Thanjavur and Manimutharu. The overarching goal of the program is to produce 40 lakh fingerlings and release them into the Cauvery, Bhavani, Thamirabarani, Vaigai, and their branch rivers across Tamil Nadu.
Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru led the release ceremony at Mukkombu, attended by Trichy District Collector M Pradeep Kumar and the Joint Director of the Fisheries Department, R Sharmila. Notably, in 2023, the department released 2.79 lakh fingerlings into the Cauvery and Kollidam. However, due to water scarcity in the rivers this year, the number of fingerlings was restricted to 1.25 lakh.
Officials highlighted the significance of the PMMSY and the fisheries department’s scheme in ensuring the sustainable maintenance of native fish species in rivers. Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department, P Ramyalakshmi, noted that around 1,300 local fishermen in Trichy stand to benefit from this program, emphasizing its positive impact on the community’s economic well-being.