A 90-minute meeting between Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday ended with the Union government handing over ₹9 crore to the West Bengal government. The discussions revolved around ways to maximise the state’s potential to lead the country in fish production and exports – West Bengal is currently second in the country after Andhra Pradesh.
“West Bengal is second in fish production in the country, but the Union government believes there is immense potential here which has not been utilised,” Singh said.
Citing Hyderabad's success as a fishing hub exporting fish to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi’s 5 and 7-star hotels, Adhikari said it was an example for West Bengal. “This is a golden opportunity. West Bengal has golden potential along the coastal belt,” the CM said, referring to the Bay of Bengal, including the Sunderbans.
The state has also received approval for six Amrit Sarovars, or lakes, in dry districts like Bankura and Purulia.
Efforts are being made by the Union government to focus on benefits for fishermen under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, with 2,80,000 applications on the portal and 1,20,000 registrations already complete. As a security measure, transponder devices have been handed over to fishermen to enable them to connect with family members via satellite through an app while at sea. The transponders will also alert fishermen about weather and the location of fish in the sea. More transponders are yet to be distributed. High-sea vessels will fly the Indian flag. The Union government has put a stop to private international shipping vessels venturing into the sea for fishing purposes.
There will be training for fishermen to improve the quality of fish production, including packaging, branding, and cold storage facilities for export purposes. Currently, 500 tonnes of hilsa have been exported to Bangladesh from Gujarat, West Bengal, and Assam combined. “Earlier, Bangladesh hilsa used to come to India; now, it is the other way around. This is the country’s achievement,” Singh said.
Improving hilsa production, utilising the potential of mud crab to cater to its rising demand in many countries, and making the Sunderbans a black tiger shrimp hub are the plans for the state’s fishing sector. Singh reiterated the Centre’s efforts to support West Bengal in its efforts to develop the fishing sector in the state.
