Tripura bags fisheries award, but minister urges people to consume less fish

AGARTALA:

Fishery minister of Tripura Mevar Kumar Jamatia has asked the people of the state to consume “less fish” citing health reasons.

Ironically, the “advice” came after the minister announced that Tripura has bagged the “Best Performing State Award in Hilly and North Eastern State” in the fisheries sector, at an event in Agartala, on December 13.

“People of Tripura consume 25 kg of fish per year per person after Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The national average is 18kg. However, according to World Health Organization, only 11 kg of fish per person per year is good for health. We request the people to reduce the consumption of fish for health reasons,” he said.

Stating that Tripura has a shortage of fish, the minister informed that the government have introduced aquaculture techniques such as Biofloc farming and pisciculture to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

“We have a shortage of fish. In 2019 and 2020, we had a shortage of 23 per cent, which we had to import from Bangladesh or from other states of the country. Now the problem is how to bridge the gap,” he said.

The Secretary of Fishery Department, Deepa D Nair, informed that Tripura received the prize because of the construction of new water bodies and adoption of frontline, and advanced fish culture technologies.

She further informed that in 2020-21, the state produced 1.05 lakh tonnes of fish and currently are working towards diversification and conservation of fish species, along with development of hygienic fish markets.

The best state award in fishery development was presented by the National Fisheries Development Board of Hyderabad.

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