Boost to ornamental fish farming

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One lakh ornamental fish farming units will be set up in the State within two years, Fisheries Minister S. Sarma has said.

Inaugurating a national training programme on ornamental fish farming in the sea, organised jointly by the National Fish Development Board and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at Kovalam on Thursday, the Minister said the government was planning a project envisaging an ornamental fish farming unit for every family.

An average monthly income of Rs.7,000 could be earned from such a unit.

Mr. Sarma said the world ornamental fish market was worth Rs.55,000 crore and the countrys contribution to it was less than one per cent, he added.