Four new fisheries projects in Ri-Bhoi were inaugurated at the 2nd Fisheries Summer Meet 2024, which was held today in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Meghalaya Fisheries Minister Alexander Laloo Hek was present along with senior civil servants from the state.
The event was marked by the e-inauguration of projects by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of Fisheries, funded under the central government’s PMMSY initiative.
The four projects in Meghalaya are worth Rs 57 lakh. They comprised a fish kiosk at Liarbang, biofloc pond at Mawkangi and Mawiong Sohbang and an indigenous breeding unit at Lalumpam Marngar.
In his address, Hek underscored Meghalaya’s commitment to sustainable development in fisheries, highlighting its role in the state’s socio-economic fabric.
Despite being in its infant stage, the state’s fisheries sector has over 35,000 fish farmers and 4,500 hectares under fish culture. The sector has grown in production from 4,799 tonnes in 2011-12 to 20,208 tonnes in 2023-24. Fish consumption per capita has also increased to 11kg.
Looking forward, the minister outlined Meghalaya’s focus on sustainable practices, exemplified by the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission and conservation efforts for native fish species through community-managed sanctuaries and protective breeding areas. He announced plans for the mission’s third phase, aimed at achieving self-sufficiency through enhanced financial frameworks.
Addressing challenges unique to Meghalaya’s terrain, the Minister stressed the importance of timely financial assistance and insurance in mitigating natural calamities’ impact on fish farmers, calling for robust collaboration across sectors.
