Fisheries Department teaches fish culture techniques

Lahore: There is a need for promotion of awareness and provision of information to the fish farms regarding fish culture techniques for producing export quality fish so that foreign exchange could be earned for the country.

This was stated by Director General Fisheries Dr. Muhammad Ayub while addressing a one day workshop on “fish culture techniques” arranged at Fisheries Research and Training Institute Manawan.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Khan of Punjab University, Prof. Dr. Naeem Tariq Norejo of University of Sindh Jamshoro, Dr. Muhammad Din of Agriculture University Faisalabad besides fisheries experts and fish famers from all over the country were present on the occasion. Dr. Muhammad Ayub informed the participants that a six monthly diploma course has been started for providing information to fish farmers regarding modern methods of fish farming. He said that it is the first programme of its kind in the country. He said that Fisheries Department at the end of this course will also start a degree programme so that fish industry could be further developed.

Dr. Ayub said that Fisheries Department is extending technical assistance to fish farmers for investment in the fisheries sector under private and public partnership. He said that the basic purpose of the workshop was to bring researchers, scientists, fish farmers and fish traders on a single platform so that the problems being faced in fisheries sector could be resolved on scientific basis for the development of fisheries. He further said that Punjab government is extending all out cooperation and support for the establishment of aquaculture technology park and export processing zone for facilitating private sector in the export of fish products.

Earlier, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Khan of Punjab University congratulated Director General Fisheries on successful conduct of the workshop and said that the Fisheries Department and scientists associated with fisheries sector are fully capable to modernize aquaculture and they will succeed in their efforts in this regard. Dr. Naeem Tariq Nurejo of Sindh University Jamshoro and Dr. Mateen of Agriculture University Faisalabad said that Punjab has taken over lead other provinces in fisheries sector like other sectors and the courses introduced for development of fish farming will yield positive results. Fish farmers and fish experts apprised of the problems being faced in fish farming and their resolution.