The fisheries department in Tripura has embarked on a comprehensive statewide survey aimed at identifying non-functional water bodies suitable for the development of pisciculture, with the goal of boosting fish production in the northeastern state. The move comes in response to the current deficit in fish production, with Tripura producing 8,284 MT of fish annually against an annual demand of 1,11,714 MT. To bridge this gap, the state relies on imports from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and neighbouring Bangladesh.
Presently, functional water bodies for fish production cover 37,957 hectares in the state. The fisheries department has set a target to develop pisciculture in water bodies, expanding the coverage to an additional 100 hectares.
Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das highlighted the increasing demand for fish, rising from 96,454 MT in 2016-17 to 1,11,714 MT in 2022-23, attributed to population growth and other factors. Concurrently, fish production has risen from 72,271 MT to 82,084 MT during the same period.
During review meetings, it was revealed that several water bodies were not utilized for pisciculture. Minister Das emphasized that making these unused water bodies functional could potentially double fish production in the state. Despite acknowledging resource constraints for conducting the survey, Das expressed plans to seek financial assistance from the Centre.
Upon completion of the survey, the fisheries department intends to formulate a comprehensive plan for submission to the Centre for financial support. Minister Das also voiced concerns about the quality of fish sourced from outside the state, citing the lengthy transportation time from Andhra Pradesh to Agartala and the potential use of preservatives during the journey.
To address these issues, Tripura aims to increase local fish production, reducing dependence on external fish supplies. Minister Das underscored the importance of self-sufficiency in fish production for ensuring the safety and quality of fish consumed within the state.
