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The planned and scientific developments in Fisheries sector started in Lakshadweep with the inception of the Department of Fisheries in 1959. Before that, the fishing crafts, Gears and fishing methods used where primitive |
types like rowing crafts and fishing gears like hand lines, cast nets, wounding gears, harpoons etc.. The Department started functioning with prime objectives of:- |
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Ø Enhancement of fish production in Lakshadweep Ø Creation of self employment opportunities to the locals of Lakshadweep Ø Upliftment of socio economic conditions of the local people |
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There was no mechanized fishing boats available in Lakshadweep at that time. The Department after inception, introduced mechanized boats for fishing especially for tuna, the only abundantly available resource in Lakshadweep waters. During 1960s the average annual fish catch was only 500 tons. Now, 503mechanized fishing boats have been introduced out of which about 400 are used for fishing in different islands. All these boats were supplied to fishermen under hire purchase system by the Department. Besides these about 500 country crafts, many of them |
fitted with Out Board Motors are also used for fishing. Annual fish catch has gone up to 12200 tons (in the year 2001). Marine workshops have been established and are available in all the islands for the repair and maintenance of the engine of the fishing boats. The Department had provided the following Pre-Requisites and infrastructural facilities for the development of Fisheries Sector in Lakshadweep. |
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Ø Establishment of Fisheries field units and demonstration Units in all islands Ø Introduction of mechanized boats for fishing especially for Tuna Ø Establishment of Boat Building Yard for the construction of fishing boats for supply to fishermen Ø Establishment of Marine work shop to attend repair and maintenance of private fishing boats. Ø Establishment of Fishermen Training Centre and imparting training to local fishermen. Ø Establishment of Canning Factory for Canning Tuna. Ø Establishment of Lakshadweep Development Corporation providing financial assistance for taking of fisheries developmental activities on commercial basis Ø Establishment of Fishermen Co-operative Societies. Ø Establishment of Tunnel Freezer, Ice plant and Cold storages for preservation and marketing of fish. |
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The materials for fishing, spare parts of engines, fishery requisites, boat maintenance materials, HSD and lube oil etc. are supplied to fishermen from Fisheries Units in all the islands on full payment. There are two Boats Building Yards available one each at Kavaratti and Chetlath. So far 368 numbers of 25-30 footer boats have been constructed in these yards and supplied to fisherman. One tuna-canning factory, which was established by the Department in 1969 is handed over to the Lakshadweep Development Corporation Ltd and now run by them. Since the islands are scattered in deep sea and miles away from one another, infrastructure facilities have to be developed in each island. In order to provide such facilities for the use of |
fishermen for preservation of their catch and production of quality products, department has established one number 1 tone capacity Tunnel Freezer at Chetlath one number 5 tone capacity Shell Ice making Unit at Agatti and one each 5 tone capacity cold storages at Agatti, Kavaratti, Androth and two numbers at Chetlath. One multi purpose medium size 55’ fishing vessel with refrigeration facilities (15 ton) capacity is also introduced during 2000-2001. The vessel is operated for deep-sea fishing using monofilament long line fishing gear for Yellowfine and other big varieties of tuna by the Lakshadweep Development Corporation. |
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Major Achievements:-The Developmental programmes formulated and implemented by the Department has got great impact in the developmental process of the Sector. The major achievements are :
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Tuna is the main resources on which the fishing industry developed in Lakshadweep. The tuna is converted into traditional product called “Mas”. The tuna is made in to fillets and there after boiled / cooked smoked and sun dried for 7 to 8 days to get the product “Mas”. The Mas is sold out at Mangalore, Calicut and Tuticorin from where it is exported to South East Asian Countries mainly to Sri Lanka. Since the fishermen, the producer is exploited to a greater extend by the middlemen at the above markets, the U. T. Administration has already provided a rolling fund to Lakshadweep Marketing Federation (LCMF), Beypore to purchase the Mas at a reasonable rate directly from fishermen and export. |
The Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited (LDCL) also come forward with a project to collect the fresh fish from fishermen from landing centers and to export to Foreign Countries in frozen condition there by the fishermen is expected to get a better price on the spot. Besides the Marine Aquarium and Museum established at Kavaratti has now became a major attraction Centre for visitors, Tourists, Students and Scholars. The institution which is one of the best of its kind in the country exhibits vast and diversities marine life. |
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