Experts from the Andhra Pradesh State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT), Kakinada, on Thursday documented the views and suggestions expressed by various stakeholders for recommending their inclusion in the draft National Marine Fisheries Policy (NMFP) – 2016. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will prepare the policy, for which it had sought opinions of the State governments. Excise and B.C. Welfare Minister K. Ravindra stressed the need for setting up more harbours along the coastline of Andhra Pradesh. Dredging The Central government should help the State government in taking up dredging of sand in strategic coastal belts, particularly in Krishna and Nellore districts, said Mr. Ravindra. The NMFP-2016 should facilitate shift to scientific fishing methods in order to tap marine resources and generate more revenue. Fishermen, boat owners and other stakeholders involved in marine fishing in Krishna and West Godavari districts expressed their views and articulated their demands.
2016, The Hindu