: Kerala Fisheries minister, K Babu, today said the new policies of the central government would destroy the fisheries sector.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the setting up of an Ocean Studies Campus of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) at Puduveypu, the minister criticised the Beenakumari commission report stating that it was harmful to traditional fisher folk in the country.
The suggestions in the report on deep sea fishing will badly affect the lives of the fishermen. New policies of the central government would destroy the fisheries sector,he said, adding, Kerala government would convey its concern on the report to the Union government shortly.
Serious research is needed on climate change, global warming, cyclone and Tsunami, he said.
The Ocean Studies Campus, to be set up by KUFOS would provide adequate human resources in the sector to address these problems and to explore the resources of ocean useful to the human being.
The campus would be made a centre of excellence in ocean studies, with international standard, he said.
Former Union minister, K V Thomas, MP, who inaugurated the one-day workshop conducted for shrimp farmers, said vennamei shrimp culture would uplift living standards of the fish farmers in the state.
The proposed academic complex is being constructed by the civil engineering wing of BSNL. The first phase of the complex is expected to touch over Rs 2 crore.
The work will be completed with one year from award of the work.
