Gandhinagar, Nov 4 (IANS) The Gujarat government has given in-principle approval for a modern fish landing centre on Shiyalbet island in Amreli district, where more than 1,100 active fishermen currently lack access to a dedicated facility for parking their boats and handling their catch.
The decision was taken at a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, government spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said.
Shiyalbet has a population of around 2,680 and a fishing fleet of 154 boats, with annual fish production recorded at 4,611 tonnes.
As the island is not connected to the mainland by road, local fishermen cannot use other ports and are compelled to park their boats around the island.
“Fishing is the primary source of livelihood for residents, making the need for a safe and dedicated fish landing facility particularly important,” Vaghani said.
Under the proposed project, the state government plans to develop a pile jetty, reclamation facilities, a stone bund, paver block surfacing and electrical infrastructure.
The centre is expected to bring facilities for fish handling, storage, auction, preservation and transportation under one location.
According to Vaghani, the infrastructure will help reduce fish wastage and make it easier for fishermen to transport their catch over longer distances.
The state government said the project is expected to improve the income, livelihood security and living standards of local fishing communities, while also creating employment opportunities in the region.
The in-principle approval marks a step towards addressing the infrastructure constraints faced by fishermen on the island, who currently have to depend on the surrounding coastal waters for parking their boats.
–IANS
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