Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar. 18: A three-days Training Programme on ‘Maintenance of Fishing Boat Engines & Fishing Practices’ jointly being organized by Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration and Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), Chennai was inaugurated today by Ms. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, Secretary (Fisheries) at the Fisheries Training Centre, Marine Hill. The training aims to equip local fishermen with the skills to resolve minor boat engine issues, enhancing their operational efficiency and safety and promote sustainable fishing practices that contribute to the welfare of the community.
In her inaugural address, the Secretary (Fisheries) expressed her happiness on the participation of young group of Fishermen in the training and explained the need of modernization of techniques in the fishing sector for sustainable utilization of marine resources. She stressed the importance of proper training in fishing gear and craft sector for ensuring both safety and economic sustainability. She also informed the participants about the proposal of Department of Fisheries to establish a Boat Repair Yard at FLC, Junglighat, which is expected to greatly benefit the local fishing community to undertake repairing without depending on mainland India. The Secretary also briefed the gathering regarding the plan of installation of transponders-a two way communication system in fishing boats of A&N Islands for better safety and surveillance of fishermen.
Earlier, Shri K. Manimaran, Senior Mechanical Engineer, welcomed the gathering and provided an overview of the training objectives. He introduced his team of experts who would be guiding the participants throughout the training sessions. Dr. K. Gopal, Joint Director (Fisheries) emphasized the challenges faced by local fishermen due to lack of specialized personnel to repair boat engines promptly. He elaborated on the significance of the training, highlighting how it would enable fishermen to troubleshoot and repair boat engines, thereby improving their day-to-day operations.
Shri S.U. Maheshwar Rao, Governing Body Member of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, also attended the inaugural session and addressed the participants and underscored the importance of resolving minor engine issues promptly to avoid delays in fishing activities. He advocated for further training for youth in the fisheries sector to generate economic opportunities for the local population.
A total of 25 fishermen across the Islands are participating in the programme. The programme consists of both technical and practical sessions, with the exposure visit to the Fishery Survey of India vessel MFV. Blue Marlin. The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Glory Rao, Assistant Director of Fisheries.
