5,000 GPS devices to help track Tamil Nadu fishers

The Union Government has given GPS devices to 5,000Tamil Nadufishermen, minister of state for , animal husbandry and dairyingL Murugansaid.

The devices would help track fishermen out at sea and warn them when they cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), he said at a function here, adding that they would also help prevent incidents where Indian fishermen are detained bySri Lankannaval forces.

After launching the second phase of National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases, Union minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying,Parshottam Rupalasaid that the first phase, launched in 2013 and ended in 2022, involved researchers identifying aquatic animal diseases and finding solutions, in the second phase, suggestions of all stakeholders would be taken and improvements made.

On the genetic improvement programme of Indian white shrimp (Penaeus indicus), he said currently most hatcheries buy brood stock of American white shrimp L vannamei, which is pathogen free, and export it after raising it.

Recognising this initiative, the Union government sanctioned the genetic improvement programme and allocated 25 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.