Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, July 03: The Department of Fisheries seized 24 packets of illegal live fresh water seeds from Port Blair airport yesterday. The seized fishes were of Ruhu, Catla variety etc.
As per rules no person can distribute or sell live fish seeds, which are bought to these Islands from Mainland India without the permission or approval of the Fisheries Department, as those seeds may carry infections and may contaminate local fishes.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr Arif Mohammed, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department said that all the time staffs or Fisheries Department are available on duty at the airport for checking.
“Yesterday one of the staffs informed me about the illegal consignment and then the staffs at Airport brought the 24 packets live fish seeds in a van. A seizure memo has been booked against Mr S. Das. The live fresh water seeds have been disposed off,” he added.
After investigation Andaman Sheekha found that there are nearly 3000 lake in A&N Islands, but the Fisheries department is unable able to fulfill the requirements all pisciculturists. There is a severe scarcity of fresh water fish seeds, forcing the pisciculturists to buy fish seeds from illegal suppliers.
“There is a need of more fresh water seeds for farmers of South Andaman. As the Nayagaon farm where live fresh water fish seeds are grown, is not that much productive,” another officer of Fisheries department said on the condition of anonymity.
Further he added that live fresh water fish seeds should be made legal, after an examination carried out right at the airport, after all not all seeds carry infections.
“We can issue quarantined certificate right at the airport if we get orders. If the seeds carry infection we will dispose off the seeds. In that case there will be easy availability of fish seeds that too without any risk. Of course there are chances of manipulation in this case too,” he added.
