Bhubaneswar, Feb 19: Fish production in Chilika Lake, one of Odisha's most prominent water bodies, saw a significant drop of around 1,200 tonnes in the fiscal year 2024-25 compared to the previous year, as revealed by Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik in the Odisha Assembly today.

The Minister made this disclosure while responding to a question raised by Jatni MLA Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray.

In 2023-24, Chilika Lake recorded a total fish production of 20,947.42 tonnes, which included 14,413.12 tonnes of fish, 6,109.59 tonnes of shrimps, and 424.71 tonnes of crabs.

However, the lake’s fish production for 2024-25 dropped to 19,754.30 tonnes, which consisted of 13,344.25 tonnes of fish, 5,970.58 tonnes of shrimps, and 439.47 tonnes of crabs.

Minister Mallik attributed the drop in production to various factors and mentioned that the state government has introduced several measures to improve fish production in the lagoon. The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has been actively working to restore and preserve the ecosystem of the lake, which includes:

1. Dredging the Chilika mouth to ensure better water flow.
2. Water and soil testing for assessing environmental quality.
3. Raising awareness about the dangers of garbage dumping into the lake.
4. Constructing new jetties and taking steps to preserve the lagoon’s biodiversity.

Furthermore, the government is supporting the local fishing community through the Mukhyamantri Maschyajibi Kalyan Yojana (MMKY), which provides new fishing nets, boats, and other equipment to the fishermen.

The government has enforced strict regulations to ensure sustainable fishing practices in the lake. Under the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act-1981, it is mandatory for fishermen to:

1. Register their boats and renew their licenses annually.
2. Avoid using zero nets for fishing, a practice considered harmful to fish populations.
3. Only fishing nets with a minimum of 10mm thread thickness are permitted to help reduce bycatch and ensure sustainable fish harvests.

The Minister also highlighted ongoing developments to enhance the efficiency and safety of fishing operations in the lake. A total of 34 fish landing centres have been established across Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam districts. The authorities are currently undertaking development work at two fish landing centres, which will allow for safe anchoring of fishing boats and more efficient handling of the catch.

Despite the decline in fish production, the Odisha government remains committed to implementing measures that will help restore the ecosystem of Chilika Lake and support the livelihoods of the fishermen dependent on its resources.