An awareness program on Reservoir fisheries Management under Tribal Sub Plan programme
was organised by CIFRI Kochi Centre with the co-operation of State Fisheries Department,
Kerala at Malamphuza dam, Palakkad Ditrict (Kerala) on 30 January 2018. Fifty one fishermen
from various small reservoirs of Palakkad district participated in the TSP programme. A total of
51 fishermen belong to Meenkara, Chulliyar, Pothundi, Walayar, Kanjirampuzha and Mangalam
reservoirs. The programme was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shri. Benny Williams, Assistant
Director of Fisheries (Palakkad). Dr. Rani Palaniswamy, Principal scientist &; OIC, Kochi centre
welcomed Shri. Benny Williams, reservoir fishers and all the CIFRI staff to this programme. She
explained the activities of the centre and emphasized the need for implementing the management
aspects in reservoir fisheries. Shri Benny Williams remarked that the programme would be a
venue for discussing the problems of fishers and finding their solutions on a scientific basis. The
programme included lectures delivered by Dr. Deepa Sudheesan, Scientist and Ms. Thankam
Theresa Paul, Scientist on the importance of reservoir fisheries development in Kerala and
various technologies for reservoir fisheries enhancement. In the afternoon session a discussion
was held using a questionnaire which dealt with their views on fishery development and
management, development of reservoir crafts and gears, policies, women empowerment, etc. The
fishermen expressed their concerns on their respective reservoir fishery and the problems faced
by them. Loss of stocked fishes due to water drawing from dam without prior intimation, habitat
destruction by sediment dredging, low market prices of fishes and heavy predation by Otters and
Cormorants. Fishers expressed their concern that the stake holders meeting needs to be convened
involving the government departments such as Fisheries, PWD and Forest to resolve their issues.
They also expressed their interest to participate similar kind of these programs conducted by
CIFRI to upgrade their skill development on various advanced technologies developed. The
programme ended with a vote of thanks by Smt. Usha Unnithan, Senior Technical Officer and
the programme venue and hall facilities was arranged by Shri. S. Manoharan, Chief Technical
Officer.