The Success Of Cage Fish Culture In Hirakud To Be Replicated In Other Places: CS Suresh Chandra Mahapatra

Sambalpur: Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra today undertook an on the spot review of the Cage Fish Culture in Hirakud reservoir. During his visit, he said the Cage Fish Culture in Hirakud is a successful model which will be replicated elsewhere in the state to substantially augment inland fresh water fish production. During this one day visit to the spot, he interacted with the various stakeholders including the fishermen and field level officials of the Fishery and Animal Resources Development.

The vast resources of the Hirakud reservoir have been made productive through adoption of technology and peoples’ participation. The State Government has started creating necessary supportive infrastructure like fish landing jetty, common facility center, Inland Fishery Research Lab etc which will soon augment inland fresh water fish production in Odisha and boost economic activities in the region.

While appreciating the progress made so far in fish breeding activities, the Chief Secretary directed the concerned departments to operationalise the common facility centre and Testing Laboratory before mass harvesting. The department was asked to expedite fixing of fish landing floating jetty in a time bound manner. Mahapatra also assured that Government would provide necessary infrastructural support for promotion of fishing activities in the reservoir. Inland Fisheries Research laboratory would be made functional for surveillance of aqua- health, and environmental impact assessment. It would also help the fish farmers in testing health of the fishes being grown in the cages.