Under different schemes, and through different agencies, the fishermen of the state have been given scientific training about fish farming. For pisciculture new water bodies have been included through extension services.The fishermen are also encouraged to use modern technologies by providing subsidies. Institutional credit has been also arranged for the fish farmers and their co-operatives.

A three tier training programme -- at the grassroot level, districts and state level -- is in operation in the state.

Training centres and offices are being constructed in all the districts. In 1997-98, 5,706 fishermen, 240 fisherwomen and 360 marine fishermen were imparted training from these centres.

Under the social fishery programme,250.68 hectares of water area was covered and under the River Ranching Programme, 20 lakh fingerlings were liberates in 1997-98.

Activities of the different agencies and their programme are discussed below.

Fish Farmers' Development Agencies

Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDA) is in operation in each district to develop inland fisheries. FFDAs have been instrumental in bringing new water bodies under scientific pisciculture and in promoting improved farming techniques in the existing fisheries.

FFDAs under Tank Improvement Scheme, provide subsidy and arrange for institutional credit for installation of aerators in existing fish farms. The productivity of fish farms has significantly increased after the introduction of aerators.

In 1997-98, FFDAs covered 1,988.7 hectares of water area and 115 units under the Tank Improvement Scheme.

In 1998-99, it is expected that another 2,300 hectares of water bodies and 150 units under tank Improvement Scheme will be covered. In 1997-98, FFDAsprovided Rs 293.04 lakhs of subsidy to 7,500 beneficiaries.

Brackish Water Fish Farmer's Development Agencies

Brackish Water Fish Farmers Development Agencies (BFDA) were set up by the state government in each of the three coastal districts of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Midnapore. The aim was to introduce scientific pisciculture in 2.1 lakh hectares of brackish water bodies in the state.

In 1997-98, BFDAs covered 327.474 hectares of brackish water area. The country earned Rs 416 crore from export of prawns in 1997-98. The World Bank aided programme for increasing the production of shrimp and fish in 1,665 hectares of brackish water area has made considerable progress in 1997-98.

Marine fisheries sector

In the marine fishery sector, the strategy of the state government has been to form co-operatives of poor marine fisherfolk and next to provide these co-operatives with mechanised fishing boats with financial assistance from the National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC).

The state government has also considerably strengthened the existing marine fishing infrastructure by constructing marine fishing harbours, fish landing centres, link roads, ice plants, sicking tubewells and setting up diesel pump stations.While around 2,834 mechanised boats were in operation in 1996-97, another 350 mechanised boats were distributed to the co-operatives in 1997-98. Apart from the marine fish harbours at Frasergunj and Shankarpur, the second phase of the Shankarpur Fishing Harbour is to become operational in near future.