Fishery scientists have stressed the need for strengthening entrepreneurship initiatives in aquaculture sector to improve the health of blue economy in the country.
They also said that small scale entrepreneurs, especially women self-help groups, can play an important role in boosting the domestic aquaculture production.
Fishery scientist P Jayasankar, Director of Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneshwar, said women 'aquapreneurs' can play a key role in developing the fish farming sector in the country by setting up small scale entrepreneurial initiatives in ornamental fish culture and fish seed rearing.
Besides, they can also go for the culture of live feed for fish larvae, crab fattening, crab seed rearing, shell craft industry and pearl culture, he said at a conference on 'Blue Economy' organised by Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) here.
Jayasankar further said that "user-friendly equipment developed by CIFA such as FRP portable hatchery and automatic feed dispenser have helped the farmers to become entrepreneurs and self-reliant."
K K Vijayan, Director of Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai said aquaculture is the better source for ensuring the food security.
"Though Kerala is highly prospective for aquaculture in terms of vast resources, species diversity and skilled manpower, absence of an organised fish feeding industry has forced the state to depend on other states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh," he said at the event.
Vijayan, also a fishery scientist, added that Kerala was yet to exploit its resources for ensuring the food security and improving the livelihood resulting in improving the blue economy. Kudumbashree units in the state also play vital part in boosting the aquaculture production.
K Ganesh, Project Manager, RGCA, (MPEDA), Nagapattinam highlighted the significance of live feed which is important for the future of induced breeding of several important aquaculture species such as crabs, lobsters, grouper, sea bass and pompano.
"The only way to revive pokkali farming in the state is through the practice of integrated fish farming," he said.
