The Fisheries department of Kerala is launching innovative schemes to utilize waterbodies and canals exceeding 10 hectares in a bid to promote sustainable inland fish farming and engage the public. These areas, currently unused for fish farming, will be identified, divided, and dedicated to scientific fish farming through fish seed ranching.
Under the scheme, Kudumbashree groups, fisher cooperatives, and other self-help organizations are potential beneficiaries. The project, conducted in collaboration with local bodies, offers a substantial 60% financial assistance to the participants. The initiative aims to cultivate various species, including snakehead, pearl spot, and carp.
To ensure responsible implementation, the maximum investment for a one-hectare project has been capped at ₹15 lakh. Additionally, the department is introducing a complementary scheme involving pen units in waterbodies larger than 10 hectares, where constructing temporary ridges is impractical.
Each unit, costing a maximum of ₹1.75 lakh, will receive a significant 60% financial assistance from the government. The plan involves depositing ten to 15 fish seeds per square meter in net enclosures measuring 20 meters in length and 10 meters in width.
For more details on these groundbreaking initiatives, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Fisheries Department directly, as announced by the Fisheries Deputy Director of the state.
