The Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) has taken a proactive step by forming a task force dedicated to providing extensive training to the fishing community across the country. The training encompasses crucial aspects of the sector, including safety, security, welfare of fishermen, production enhancement, productivity, and advancements in processing and value addition. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a Central scheme aiming to catalyse a Blue Revolution by fostering sustainable and responsible growth in the fisheries sector, addressing critical gaps within the industry.
CIFNET has meticulously designed various training programs tailored to meet the diverse needs of the fishing community. These programs target capacity building in deep-sea fishing and onboard handling of tuna, defect rectification, and maintenance of boat engines, life-saving appliances, safety at sea, communication, and navigation equipment onboard fishing vessels. Other areas of focus include hygienic handling and preservation of catch onboard fishing vessels, basics of seamanship, navigation, marine electronic equipment, capacity building in monofilament longline, and tuna handling.
The institute initiated its first capacity building program in Chennai in 2017, training 97 fishermen. This effort has since been extended to various locations, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Notably, skill development programs have been organized for 396 fishermen in Puducherry, Mahe, and Yanam. In Odisha, a total of 280 fishermen have benefited from CIFNET’s training programs under the PMMSY initiative in places such as Paradeep, Dhamara, Balaramgadi, Astaranga, Pentakota, and Gopalpur.
Further outreach has been conducted with training programs for 191 fishermen in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Kakinada, Nizampatnam, and Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh. Skill development training programs have also been organized in maritime states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
This concerted effort by CIFNET underlines its commitment to advancing the capabilities and knowledge of the fishing community, contributing to the overarching goals of PMMSY. The training initiatives aim not only to bridge existing gaps in the fishery industry but also to empower fishermen with the skills and awareness necessary for sustainable and responsible practices.
