Administration is keen to support, strengthen social security &welfare, generate employment for fishermen: Officials

World Fisheries Day celebrations in Valley

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: World Fisheries Day is celebrated annually on November 21st to highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries management and to draw attention to the crucial role of small-scale fishers in ensuring food security and livelihoods for millions around the world.
In Kashmir Valley The ‘World Fisheries Day’ was on Tuesday celebrated with full zeal and zest at Trout Fish Farm Mammar, in solidarity with the fishermen and fish farmers of Ganderbal.
The celebration was presided over by ADDC Ganderbal, Mushtaq Ahmed Simnani; SDM Kangan, Scientists from SKUAST (K) and Central University were also present.
Large number of students and farmers were also present on the occasion.
The program was conducted in collaboration with KVK and the Department of Fisheries, Ganderbal.
Appreciating the efforts of the Fisheries department, ADDC Ganderbal applauded the importance of the world Fisheries day and emphasized the need for sustainable fisheries in and around the world.
SDM Kangan praised the efforts put in by all the stakeholders for management and conservation of Fisheries resources in the state of J&K, with particular reference to District Ganderbal.
Earlier, Assistant Director Fisheries Ganderbal, briefed efforts put in by the Department of Fisheries for farmer upliftment and economic upgradation.
In consonance with Yuva Vani under HADP, the students were briefed about the holistic approach to be adopted by the young generation to adopt fish farming and other agricultural practices.
He said, India is the third largest fish producing and the second largest aquaculture country in the world accounting for 7.56 percent of share in the global fish production. At country level Andhra Pradesh tops the list of fish producing states and union territories and it provides livelihood to about 2.80 crore people at the primary level especially to marginalized and vulnerable communities and twice the number in value chain.
He added that J & K having abundant water resources spread of thousands of hectares prominently including Wular Lake, Mansbal Lake, Dal Lake has great potency for development of fish species like Amar Carp, Common Carp and Trout fish. As per Wular Management & Conservation Authority (WUMCA) 60 percent of fish supply from Kashmir is catered by Wular Lake and is source of livelihood to 9,000 families.
Official said that J&K is the leading producer of trout fish that accounts for 70 percent of trout production in India. They are found in all Nallahs and streams of the valley naturally. The famed ones are Gurez, Kishanganga, Wangath, Sindh, Lidder, Sukhnag etc.
The three types of fish Kashmiris eat are Kashmiri fish-long slim of white colour, second is of black colour (Bilose fish) and trout also white called Zob.
Notably, the Golden Mahaseer is the state fish of J&K. According to one estimate about 90,000 people derive their livelihood from this pursuit. The fish production JK data is updated yearly and there has been a crop of 25,000 tons during 2022 which is up by 4,000 tons from 21,000 tons in 2021 while as demand for fish is 1.5 lakh tons..
However, this year, J&K Administration has approved Rs.176 crore project to overcome the bottlenecks and boost fish production through research & development.
The project aims to increase fish production and productivity, rate of growth, promote sustainable development for enhancing nutritional security &support, strengthen social security and welfare for fishermen, generate employment, facilitate improving pre-harvest, harvesting and post harvest practices, create value addition, enlarge market reach and coverage and overall increase in economic prosperity.