Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Emphasizes Modernizing Fishing Industry

The state government is expecting to commission five modern, deep-sea fishing vessels next month as a part of its effort to modernize marine fisheries and safeguard the livelihood of the fishing communities.

Inaugurating the ‘Theerasadasu’ program planned across 47 coastal constituencies here on Sunday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the vessels, each costing up to ₹1.5 crores will assist traditional fishermen to boost their incomes.

A statement said that the vessels will be fuelled by petrol and LPG. As a part of experimenting with new technologies in the fisheries sector, sea cage farming will be tried out with technical assistance from Norway, he said.

He said so far, 2,016 houses have been completed. Three hundred and ninety flats also have been completed and handed over.

Vijayan said that as a part of the modernization programs, the government also intends to modernize 51 fish markets at a cost of ₹138 crores.

Saji Cherian, Minister for Fisheries who presided over the function held at the government UP School, Pozhiyoor, said the ‘Theerasadasu’ interaction program will be a big success in addressing the problems of the fishing community.

Ministers V. Sivankutty, G. R. Anil, and Antony Raju, MLAs K. Ansalan and V. Joy, Principal Secretary (Fisheries) K. S. Srinivas, Fisheries director Adeela Abdulla, and District Collector Geromic George attended the event.

Also, the researchers will focus on the small pelagic fishery, especially mackerels, oil sardines, and anchovies. The program will focus on enhancing the profitability of the marine fishery sector and the socio-economic status of fishers. Developing climate-resilient fishery has also been identified as the key focus area.