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Government Of Assam Fishery

Top stories and Development goal of Fisheries

UN’S Sustainable development goal(SDGs) STATE Fisheries & Aquaculture SECTOR

The United Nations General Assembly, adopted a resolution incorporating 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 targets and 304 indicators on 25th September, 2015 under the official agenda “Transforming our world : the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development”. The Government of India is one of the signatories to this Resolution. The Government of Assam recognizes that the 17 SDGs, 169 targets and 304 indicators represent the consensus of the global community on things to be done by different Governments in the interest of the well-being of the entire world and humanity. The Government of Assam further recognize the great beneficial impact achievement of these Goals would have on the health, happiness, prosperity and well-being of each and every citizen of Assam, as also on the conservation and preservation of the State’s unique bio-diversity, which is so important for the sustainable development and economic growth of Assam. Keeping the above in view, the Government of Assam has decided to implement the SDGs in the State with effect from 1st January, 2016, and to launch an initiative titled “Assam -2030 in light of SDGs” from that date. Department of Fisheries, Government of Assam also proposes to incorporate the idea of SDGs for overall development of Fisheries Sector of Assam.

Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Jee in his address at the United Nations (UN) on 25th September, 2015 at the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit said “I speak about Blue Revolution, which includes the prosperity, sustainable use of marine wealth and Blue skies”. The State of Assam is endowed with vast fishery resources in the form of river, wetlands/Beels, ponds, tanks, swampy and low-lying areas, paddy field etc.. More than 95% of total population of the State consumes fish. This implies that fisheries and aquaculture plays a significant role in overall socio-economic development of the poor people of the State.

Out of the 17 SDG Goals, two Goal namely the Goal-1: No Poverty and the Goal-2: Zero Hunger have significance relevance in the States Fishery Sector because, lakhs of rural livelihoods could be created in fishery sector to minimize poverty and hunger by adopting community based development approach in fisheries.

The State is shortage of seed and feed--the two basic requirements of sustainable fisheries resulting poor fish production in the State. Fish production during 2015-16 is 2.94 Lakh MT against the requirement of 3.36 Lakh MT leaving a gap of 0.42 lakh MT of fish. The average fingerlings and feed production is 135 million numbers and 3000 MT against the requirement of 350 million numbers fish fingerlings and 90000 MT feed respectively. To minimise the gap of production, to make the State self sufficient in fish seed, feed and table fish production and thereby contributing towards minimizing the poverty with reduced hunger, Fishery Department has already proposed some bold initiatives under three years action plan and seven year strategic action plan under SDGs.

There are number of issues and concerns in fishery sector such as :

  • shortage of quality fish seed, feed and other aquaculture critical inputs
  • In-sufficient fish seed production and rearing infrastructure
  • Prevailing low temperature and prolonged winter season
  • Non availability of adequate credit facility
  • Poor species diversification
  • Un-organized market and marketing infrastructure for fish seed and table fish
  • Poor post-harvest infrastructure facility.

Department is trying its level best for holistic development of fisheries through different government scheme with emphasizing the followings:

  • Horizontal expansion of resources
  • Popularization of culture-based fisheries in wetlands/beels
  • Semi intensive fish farming in pond and tanks
  • Intensive fish culture in pond and tanks of progressive fish farmers
  • Stock enhancement in Beel and other natural water resources
  • Large-scale adoption of integrated fish farming in potential areas
  • Conservation of natural water resources
  • Development of ornamental fisheries in a systematic way
  • Stakeholder’ training and capacity building programs
  • Ensuring effective fish post harvest and marketing infrastructure facilities.

Department has tentatively identified some of the key activities like

  • Establishment of fish seed hatcheries @ 10 million fry production capacity, both in private and government sector;
  • Establishment of small and medium size feed mills;
  • Fingerling (80-100 mm size) stocking in suitable natural water bodies for production enhancement;
  • Development of existing ponds and tank with supply of first year inputs through semi-intensive aquaculture;
  • Intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks owned by the progressive fish farmers;
  • New pond construction in suitable low-lying area ,
  • Large-scale adoption of integrated fish farming in potential areas such as paddy-cum-fish culture in low-lying areas and pig-cum-fish culture in pig rearing belts in existing ponds on cluster basis and
  • Reorganization of the ornamental fishery sector in the State.

For sustainable development of the sector, Fishery Department has trying to explore to mobilize the funding resources like funds from GOI, NEC, NABARD, Externally Aided Projects funds, banking and other Financial Institutes, corporate giants like IOC, ONGC, etc. in coming days. Completion of the above activities will certainly produce huge quantity of fish annually after 2019-20 which will help in making the State self sufficient in fish production by 2020-21 at the current requirement basis.