Arrangements are on for the implementation of the 'Matsya Keralam' project which envisages utilisation of inland-water areas for increasing fish production in the State. The initiative, meant to increase food security in the State, is being seen as a way of overcoming the trend of stagnation in the marine fisheries sector. Sources in the Fisheries Department said the current level of exploitation of marine fish stocks had exceeded the maximum sustainable yield level. District and grama panchayat-level steering committees were being constituted in all the districts for the implementation of the project over the next three years beginning 2008-09, they said. As many as 700 grama panchayats will actively participate in the programme which targets to bring 10,000 hectares of inland water areas under fish, prawn and shrimp culture, they said. The project aims at increasing inland fish production from the current 75,000 tonnes to two lakh tonnes over a period of 10 years, they added. Figures provided by the Fisheries Department showed that inland fish production reached a peak share of 13 per cent of the total fish production of the State in 2000-01. It declined since then and remained around 11 per cent during 2002-06. This stands in sharp contrast to the inland fish production at the national level that accounts for 50 per cent of the total fish production. Gifted with rich freshwater resources, the State has a total freshwater area of about 1,60,000 hectares comprising reservoirs, rivers, ponds, tanks, irrigation tanks and other water bodies. An extent of 1500 hectares of ponds and tanks and 2800 hectares of irrigation tanks are under the control of local bodies. There are also 17,000 hectares of kole lands in Thrissur and Malappuram districts; 35,000 hectares of 'padasekharams' in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts and large brackish-water areas.
The Hindu, 5th November 2008
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