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The deluge in Kerala has had a cascading effect on the cage fish farming ventures of both the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos), the nodal agency promoting pen and cage fish farming in the State.
Commercially valuable fish such as Pearl Spot, Sea Bass and Red Snapperwere lost in the floods, especially at a time when farmers were about to harvest the fully-grown fish ahead of the Onam season. The CMFRI estimated the loss at around ₹4 crore in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.
Major setback
According to Imelda Joseph, Head, Mariculture division, CMFRI, around 300 cages were submerged under the muddy waters. Pizhala Island, a model village in cage fish farming, with around 200 units, experienced a massive loss when those units were washed away in the floods.
PD Jensen of Puthenvelikkara village had lost around one lakh fish stock of eight commercial varieties, estimated to be worth ₹60 lakh.
Kufos, according to Daisy C Kappen, Director of Extension, was supporting 63 self-help groups to establish pen and cage culture units in different villages of Ernakulam and all these units were hit.
“These units were under our village adoption programme in generating employment to village youths. Our preliminary survey puts the loss of each farmer at between ₹5 lakh and ₹60 lakh per unit,” she said.
Insurance sought
A Gopalakrishnan, Director, CMFRI, pointed out that lack of proper insurance in the cage fish farming sector has become a major impediment. “This issue should be seriously addressed at least in the wake of this extreme situation. We are looking into mechanisms by which we can support the issues related to cage fish farming when flooded conditions occur,” he said.
“We will prepare a detailed report and submit it to the government for all kinds of help, other than finance, to re-establish the farming units. We are not in a position to extend financial help since knowledge transfer is our prime motive,” said A Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor, Kufos.
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