The marine products export development authority (MPEDA) Goa’s central subsidy schemes for installing insulated fish hold and ice making machines for trawlers have been gathering dust for the past eight years, with very few takers. This year the authority approached fishermen corporative societies and have gained a good response.
Deputy director of MPEDA Goa, S. Asok Kumar says, “All these schemes were introduced in 2005, but very few fishermen have come forward to receive the benefits. We give 30 % subsidy for installation of insulated fish hold for marine fishing boat owners as of 2013, but only 48 vessels have availed of the scheme”.
There are two other schemes providing 30% subsidy- one for installation of a refrigerated sea water system and the other for setting up an ice making machine on board mechanized deep sea fishing vessels- that have not been claimed by any fisherman.
Kumar says that these three schemes were introduced to encourage fish vessel owners to go to sear for many days at a stretch. He adds, “The ice making machine scheme was introduced so that the fishermen could go deep into the sea for days and an onboard ice making machine would serve them to refrigerate their catch for longer time”.
“Its capacity varies from 250 kg to about five tons and can produce 200 to 300 kg of ice. It might be a high investment but it’s a lifelong one,” Kumar informed.
Both the ice making machine and the insulated fish hold could cost around 4 lakh each, depending upon the capacity. This steep capital investment may be the reason for a poor response, says Kumar.
Out of the eight societies the authority contacted, only the Xapora Boat Owners Fisheries Cooperative Society Limited, from Chapora, responded positively with applications, with around 30 boat owners from the society applying for the scheme.
Though there is a demand for tuna fishing, fishermen feel that the subsidies are not attractive in the real sense.
MPEDA implements two schemes but there are no takers for both.
One scheme encourages the harvesting of tuna in deep sea urging fish vessel owners to convert their existing vessels to tuna long liners.
Kumar says, “Most of our fishermen don’t go for deep sea fishing. This scheme provides 50% subsidy on the cost of conversion, but in the last five years no trawler owner from Goa has shown any interest in this scheme “.
Another scheme which promotes the construction of new tuna long liners is also awaiting takers.
Chairman of Mandovi fisheries cooperative society Menino Alphonso said that fishermen are aware of the schemes but it’s then high end investment that restricts them. We would like to go in for tuna fishing.
2013 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.