Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (FAH&D) Shri Parshottam Rupala along with Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan will launch Sagar Parikrama Phase-IX on 7^th October 2023 at Thondi, Ramnad District of Tamil Nadu. Both Union Ministers and other dignitaries will visit and grace the events with their presence in eight coastal districts of Tamil Nadu namely Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai and also at Karaikal and Puducherry.

During the journey of Sagar Parikama Phase IX, Shri Parshottam Rupala, along with Dr. L. Murugan will interact with fishers and also distribute Certificates/sanctions relating to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and State Schemes to fishers and beneficiaries.

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister, FAH&D and Minister of State, FAH &D & I & B, Dr. L. Murugan will review progress of implementation of Schemes of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Both the Ministers will also grace the stage functions planned at Nagapattinam Fishing Harbour on 07.10.2023, Poompuhar Fishing Harbour and Cuddalore Fishing Harbour on 08.10.2023.  During Parikrama, literature on the PMMSY scheme, State schemes, e-shram, FIDF, KCC, will also be widely disseminated to promote the schemes for awareness and benefits.

Sagar Parikrama is an outreach program intended to reach out fishermen community across the entire coastal belt of the country. The initiative has been launched to understand the issues, experiences and aspirations of fishermen and also to create awareness of various schemes and programs of the Government available to fishermen in coastal areas.

In the Sagar Parikrama Phase –IX officials from fisheries Department Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, District officials, Senior officials from Department of Fisheries, Government of India, National Fisheries Development Board, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training, Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical & Engineering Training will also participate.

Fishers, Fishermen representatives, fish-farmers, entrepreneurs, fishermen cooperative society leaders, professionals, scientists, and other stakeholders will join various events and interactions during the journey of Sagar Parikrama from Thondi, Ramnad District of Tamil Nadu to Chennai passing through other districts including Puducherry.

Union Territory of Puducherry endowed with 1400 Ha of inland water area in the form of Ponds and Tanks suitable for both capture and culture fishery. 800 Ha of Brackish water areas are available for undertaking Brackish Water Prawn culture.

Tamil Nadu has 1,076 km long coastline, which is the second largest in the country. The state is enriched with marine, brackish water and inland fisheries resources amenable for capture and culture fisheries. Marine fish production (2021-22) of the State stood at 5.95 lakh MT, of which 1.14 lakh MT, valued at Rs. 6,559.64 crores were exported. The fisheries industry supports the livelihood of 10.48 lakh marine fishers through 5,830 mechanised and 45,685 traditional fishing crafts which are actively engaged in fishing and 4,41,977 marine fisher folks enrolled in Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board.

The rich fisheries biodiversity of Tamil Nadu provides livelihood opportunities to more than a million people directly and in the ancillary activities. During the year 2021-22, the sector’s contribution to the State agriculture GDP is 5.78%. The State’s contribution from fisheries sector in the foreign exchange was Rs. 6,559.64 crores by exporting 1.14 lakh metric tonnes of fish and fishery products during the year 2021-22. Fishery Sector has become a vital sector enriched with a source of livelihood for fishermen and also generating employment to a large extent of the society as well as sharing for national food security and valuable foreign exchange earnings in Puducherry also.

The first eight phases of Sagar Parikrama have covered 4,115 km in 8 Coastal states/UTs including Gujarat, Diu & Daman, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar. The journey signifies an evolutionary initiative of the Government of India demonstrating solidarity with fisher folk, fish farmers, and other concerned stakeholders across the coastal belt. Aiming to resolve the challenges faced by the fishing community and facilitate their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs implemented by the government, such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and to disseminate information about various fisheries related schemes and programs, promoting responsible fisheries with a focus on sustainable balance, and protection of marine ecosystems.

*****

SK/SS