Fisheries

About the Department

Visakhapatnam district is primarily maritime district and large scale of coastal fishers are depending on fishing activity for their livelihood.   The fisheries sector aims at exploitation of all the possible water resources under capture and culture fisheries for increasing fish production and productivity through sustainable development. The sector is contributing considerably for, food security, nutrition and health, lively hood security to rural population besides export earnings   and welfare of fishers. Recognizing the importance of fisheries sector, it has been identified as growth engine for economic development based on an evaluation of potentials of sectors to build on accumulated strength, to make significant impact on Gross State Domestic Product, and to exploit opportunities created by global trends.

Objectives of the Department:

• Enhancement of production and productivity of fish and  prawn
• Optimum utilisation of water resources for development of fishery wealth through eco-friendly practices
• To promote per capita fish consumption
• To create infrastructure facilities for fisheries development
• To extend welfare measures to the fishers
• Institutional and capacity building for
• Women empowerment through their productive role
• Nutritional security, quality promotion and value addition through cold chain development

Human and Fishery Resources:

Marine Fisheries Sector

Inland Fisheries Sector

Fish and Prawn Production for the last 10 years (Production in M.Tonnes)

(Source: Department of Fisheries)

Status of Sea food Exports from Visakhapatnam Port.(Rs. In Crores)

(Source: MPEDA and Dept. Of Fisheries)

Extension and Training Activities:

Training of capacity building to fishers and aqua farmers is vital  component among the Departmental activities. The grass-root level functionaries like Fisheries Development Officers (FDOs) and Assistant Inspector of Fisheries are constantly organising field level trainings to aqua farmers, members of the cooperative societies, coastal fishers and fisherwomen to educate them on sustainable practices and advanced technologies in the sector. Promoting cluster approach in aquaculture farming area for adopting Best Management Practices.

Technical Services to aqua farmers through Aqua labs:

The Aqua labs established at Bheemili- Kothuru is continuously  catering the technical needs of aqua farmers in the field of soil and water analysis and  disease diagnosis  and educating the aqua farmers to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable aquaculture practices

Regulatory Activities:

• Implementation MFR Act 1994 – To promote conservation of fish stock by observing ban period, mesh size regulation etc., in coastal waters.
• Online registration of all seagoing fishing craft through MS Act 1958 and issue of Biometric ID cards to marine fishers for coastal security.
• Conservation and regulation of fishery resources in licensed reservoirs
• Implementation of Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) Act of Govt. Of India for regulating and registration of brackish water aquaculture farms .
• Implementation of Co-operative Act 1964, in organizing FCSs/dispute resolution
• Regulation of fresh water aquaculture vide GOMS No. 7, AH,DD &F Dt.16-3-13 through DLCs by issue of licenses for construction of ponds and taking up fish culture
• Enactment of AP Aquaculture seed (Quality Control) Act 2006, for ensuring the production and supply of quality seed by hatcheries through disease diagnostic labs
• Regulation on usage of banned antibiotics in farming, hatcheries and feed supplements through District Level Committee as per the GOMS No. 2 AHDDF (FISH) Dept. 11-1-2017
• Regulation on culture of banned cat fish species vide GOMS No.54 AHDD &FISHERIES (Fish-II) Dept. Dated 4-10-2005 and usage of slaughter wastages in aquaculture to protect the ecosystem as per GOMS No.56 AHDD&F (FISH) Dept. Dated 4-11-2016.

Strategies to proposed to achieve double digit growth in fisheries sector:

Marine Fisheries Sector:

• Promotion of deep sea tuna fishing to exploit untapped deep sea resources.
• Cage culture in marine waters for augmenting production in coastal waters and for employment to coastal fishers,
• implementation of ban period on marine fishing for 61 days during every year from April 15^th to 14^th June to conserve the fishery resources,
• Promotion for establishment of  Cold chain facilities to quality control ,
• Effective post harvest practices and Value addition,
• Creation of Infrastructure facilities for hygienic handling and quality produce
• Ensuring sea safety, effective marine communication system and  Vessel monitoring system for disaster preparedness
• Satellite based PFZ data dissemination for facilitate fishers to catch more fish
• Welfare programmes for fishers for their socio-economic up-liftment

Aquaculture Sector:

• Cluster approach for promoting sustainable practices,
• Disease surveillance and monitoring,
• High bio-security measures,
• Encouraging organic farming,
• Alternate species culture like mu- crab and sea bass culture,
• De-silting and dredging of creeks for free flow of creek water,
• Regulation on usage of banned antibiotics in aqua inputs,
• Mobile lab services for health management services,
• Regulation on shrimp hatcheries and aqua shop for quality seed and
• Geo-tagging of shrimp culture farms and ensuring traceability.

Inland fisheries sector:

• Stocking of advance fingerlings and yearlings in potential water bodies,
• Alternate species culture like scampi and Pangassius,
• Spawn and fry rearing in captive seed nurseries,
• Cluster approach in Inland Fishermen Coop. Societies
• ICT Services and geo-tagging of all water bodies for monitoring of water bodies