WB-FISH

The three-day 'Bengal Fish Fest

2019', organised by state Fisheries Department, began here

Friday to make the people aware the achievement of the state

government in this area where the state was a front-runner,

Fisheries Minister Chandra Nath Sinha said.

West Bengal has a tremendous potential in the

fisheries sector ranking second in fish and first in fish seed

production in the country, Sinha said at the inaugural

function of the festival.

The minister said 'Bengal Fish Fest' gives a platform

for showcasing the improvement in fish production, existing

policies and those policies that are in the pipeline.

On employment potential of the sector, Sinha said the

youth is being motivated to come into fish farming and

exporting, thereby boosting employment in the state.

The state is also looking into the possibility of

revival of certain variety of fishes and crabs, the minister

said adding women members of self help groups are also being

encouraged to start working in allied sectors such as

handicrafts from fish scales, fish fillet making and so on.

Mooting for the creating a hub of Hilsa trade in West

Bengal, Sinha said, "If Norway and Australia can build such a

large scale industry on Salmon, why cant Bengal do the same

in Hilsa?"

Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr Ravi Inder

Singh, said the fisheries sector has improved over the last

seven-eight years.

The three-day festival had stalls put up by

stakeholders from the fisheries sector projecting modern

technologies, different varieties of fish feed, ornamental

fish apart from a large number of food stalls by leading food

chains.