The Kerala government has firmed up plans to ramp up exports of ornamental fish in a big way, even as the Centre is targeting to increase this ‘highly-potential’ business by five per cent during the next financial year.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, minister for fisheries and ports, K Babu, said that the state had chalked out plans to increase the exports as there was good demand for ornamental fishes like ‘Miss Kerala’.
The government has also decided to announce an aquaculture policy for the development of the sector soon. It has appointed a technical committee for drafting the same.
Babu said that the satellite aqua farm, being set up at Neyyar in Thiruvananthapuram, would be commissioned soon. A similar farm at Kadungallore in Ernakulam district has already commenced operations.
The government has now planned to make Kerala as a major hub of aquaculture and will set up aquaculture farms for cultivating ornamental breeds at various locations of the state.
Babu said that India contributed 0.08 per cent to the Rs 70,000-crore global ornamental fish market. The Union government has planned to enhance the country’s share to 5 per cent in the near future in which Kerala’s contribution will be significant, he added.
“The state government has also formed a special task force to submit reports on aquaculture in traditional paddy fields like Pokkali in Ernakulam district and Col farms in Thrissur district. Frequent virus infection to fish and shrimp in these farms has upset the farmers and the task force will study the issue and submit reports,” Babu said.
Kerala exports ornamental fishes worth Rs 35 lakh every year, to various West Asian countries and the US.
International aqua show
The Kerala government will organise the 6th India International Aqua Show in Kochi from February 10. The five-day event will have 120 stalls and will see the participation of countries like the US, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and the Maldives.
The show will also showcase various accessory products like fish meal, medicines and machinery. There will be an international seminar on various aspects of aquaculture and the ornamental fish industry.
