Awareness Programme on “Reservoir Fisheries Management” under Tribal Sub Plan
Awareness Programme on Reservoir Fisheries Management” was organized at Amaravathy Dam
under Tribal Sub Plan programme by Kochi Centre of ICAR-CIFRI in co-operation with the
Tamil Nadu State Fisheries Department and Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation
Limited (TNFDC) on 11 th October 2018. More than 50 tribal fishers belonging to Amaravathy
Nagar Tribal Fishermen Co-operative Society, Karattupathi settlement participated in the
programme. Dr. Rani Palaniswamy, Principal scientist & Officer-in-charge, ICAR-CIFRI, Kochi
Centre welcomed the Officials and fishermen to the Awareness Programme. The programme was
presided by Smt. Kausalya Devi, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Erode Dist., Tamil Nadu and
felicitated by Smt. Regina Jasmine, Inspector of Fisheries, Erode dist and Shri. Araseeralan,
Deputy Manager, Amaravathy Dam.
In her address Smt. Kausalya Devi highlighted the role of ICAR-CIFRI towards the enhancement
of livelihood of fishers through advanced technologies development and dissemination. Smt.
Regina Jasmine suggested effective utilization of Pen culture technology demonstrated by CIFRI
in reservoirs of Tamil Nadu for quality seed production. Dr. Rani Palaniswamy, stressed that the
seed rearing in in-situ pen culture would save them the seed cost as well as reduce mortality rates
during stocking in the reservoirs and it is an alternative to land based nurseries in fish seed
production technology. CIFRI Scientistsgave a presentation on ‘Amaravathy Reservoir - Seed
Production System’ and explained the prospects of pen enclosures as in-situ nurseries. Further,
the programme also involved discussion on their livelihood aspects using a questionnaire which
will record the views of fishers on various aspects such as fishery development and management,
development of reservoir crafts and gears, policies, women empowerment, etc. Dr. Deepa
Sudheesan, Scientist and Ms. Thankam Theresa Paul, Scientist also participated in the interactive
discussion with the fishers. The fishers put forth their requirements for better management of
reservoir fishery such as motorization of crafts and provision of fishery inventories at subsidized
rates. The fishers expressed their interest in pen culture activities recommended in Amaravathy
reservoir as it would be a gender empowerment activity. Shri. S. Manoharan, Chief Technical
Officer proposed vote of thanks.