Fishermen community in the state is expected to get the much-anticipated shot in the arm, with the finance minister setting apart Rs 321.31 crore for the fisheries sector in the budget. The minister has earmarked Rs 61.1 crore for ‘Marine Fisheries’ schemes, and Rs 3.5 crore has been allocated for various activities of ‘Samudra’ project, for developing infrastructure facilities in the fisheries sector. A new scheme with an outlay of Rs 10 crore was also announced to modernize fishing fleets. It is intended to provide a subsidy of 60%, up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. In the budget, the government has also declared its intention to promote aquaculture and mariculture. An amount of Rs 82.11 crore has been earmarked for the inland fisheries sector, and Rs 67.50 crore has been allocated with an aim to double the current aquaculture production to 50,000 tonnes. ‘s seafood industry, which is expecting a huge support from the Centre for the promotion of the industry, will now join shrimp farming in a big way as Rs 5.88 crore has been allocated in the budget for the promotion of Vannamei Shrimp farming.
An amount of Rs 5 crore has been set apart for innovative aquaculture activities and the expansion of Shrimp farming in Kaipadu, Kole and Pokkali fields. However, the traditional fishermen’s union expressed disappointment over the budget allocation, which they felt was for fish farmers not part of the fishermen community. According to Charles George, state president of Kerala Matsyathozhilali Aikya Vedi, one of the main issues the fishermen face is the auction pricing at harbours and landing centres.