Former Member of Parliament and president of Puducherry Maanila Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam M. Ramadass has urged the government to constitute a Fisheries Development and Welfare Board in the Union Territory.

He said in a statement that the government could include the proposal for setting up the board in the coming Budget. The territory produces around 38,000 metric tonnes of fish annually, generating an economic value of ₹300-₹350 crore.

By adopting scientific methods, the annual production could be increased to one lakh metric tonnes. The sector’s contribution could thus be enhanced to around ₹1, 000 crore. Statutory provision for the setting up of a board could only address the development of the sector and provide social security cover for fisherfolk, the release said.

The territorial administration could tap into the resources provided by the National Fisheries Development Board and the Ministry of Fisheries for initiating fisheries development projects, he said.