The ambitious cage fish farming project in the reservoirs in the state is all set to take off at Pazhassi dam reservoir. “We can say that this is the first such project to have a full-fledged beginning in the state, and this aims to increase the aquaculture production here,” said Sreejesh K, the extension officer of the project implemented by Fisheries Resource Management Society (FIRMA), under the fisheries department. Though a similar project was launched in Malampuzha reservoir in Palakkad, the cultivation is yet to begin, according to the officials. The project, which would cost Rs three crore, is implemented by Firma, but it will be managed by a local self-help group (SHG), Pazhassi Raja Fish Farm self-help group, said Sreejesh. The cage fish farming is implemented on profit sharing basis. Firma will get 75% while the farmers will get 25% because the total investment is by the government agency.The members of the SHG have been given training in cage fish farming in Karnataka and they will take care of the cages. The SHG, established in 1994, has been into fishing ever since its inception. The cages are made using floats and as of now, there are 77 cages having a length of 200m when tied together. In the beginning, the seedlings will be deposited in a few cages and as they grow up, will be shifted to other cages based on their growth to make the harvesting easier. The fodder would be provided in the cage only, and though it is an enclosure, it will always have fresh water, which would help their growth, according to Firma. There are certain varieties that grow quickly in the freshwater and 70,000 such seedlings have been brought from Andhra. According to fisheries deputy director Beena Sreekumar P, there is a huge potential for this innovative method and there will be more productivity. Since the cages float on water, the change in the water level is not an issue, said the Firma officials. However, since the cages might not be safe in the reservoir when there is a heavy flow of water during monsoon, the plan is to start the cultivation this month itself and make the harvest by May. The formal inauguration of the cage fish farming is expected in January, said the officials.
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