Chennai: The Union government has distributed GPS devices to 5,000 fishermen in Tamil Nadu recently, as announced by Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, L Murugan. The GPS devices are designed to track fishermen at sea and provide warnings when they approach or cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), thereby preventing incidents where Indian fishermen may be detained by Sri Lankan naval forces.
The announcement was made during a function in Chennai recently where Murugan emphasized the importance of these devices in ensuring the safety of fishermen and preventing international boundary violations.
Additionally, during the launch of the second phase of the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, highlighted the continuation of efforts to address aquatic animal diseases. The first phase, initiated in 2013 and concluded in 2022, involved researchers identifying diseases and proposing solutions. In the second phase, Rupala stated that input from stakeholders would be considered, and improvements to the program would be implemented.
Rupala also mentioned the genetic improvement program for the Indian white shrimp (Penaeus indicus). Currently, most hatcheries use the American white shrimp L vannamei for breeding, given its pathogen-free status. However, with hatchery owners expressing a desire for species diversity, the Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture has successfully optimized breeding protocols, demonstrating the culture potential of Indian white shrimp across various coastal states using indigenous feed.
Recognizing the significance of this initiative, the Union government has sanctioned the genetic improvement program, allocating ₹25 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to support and further develop this effort.
