The fisheries sector in Tamil Nadu has suffered major damages. Besides loss <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lives <strong>and</strong> assets such as houses <strong>and</strong> pers<strong>on</strong>al bel<strong>on</strong>gings, fishing boats <strong>and</strong> nets, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fisheries infrastructure (Fishing Harbours <strong>and</strong> fish L<strong>and</strong>ing Centres) has also suffered heavy damages. Andhra Pradesh: Fishers al<strong>on</strong>g 1,000 km coastline here were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> worst hit by tsunamis. Fishers lost some 2,000 fishing boats <strong>and</strong> 47,370 nets. The trawlers, fishing equipment <strong>and</strong> fish stored for exports were all damaged at Visakhapatnam. Nearly 300,000 fishers were rendered jobless <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are estimated to be losing Rs. 50 milli<strong>on</strong> a day. Fishing is a major trade activity in coastal Andhra. The state produces 200,000 t<strong>on</strong>nes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> marine fish every year. <strong>Aquaculture</strong> Many hatchery facilities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sou<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn India regi<strong>on</strong>s were severely affected with damages; in Kovalam, Marakanam <strong>and</strong> P<strong>on</strong>dy belt, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> shrimp hatcheries have lost <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir pump houses, fencing etc; shrimp farms at Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkali were severely affected with collapsed bunds <strong>and</strong> damaged pumps; shrimp farms in Vellar esturaries (Chidambaram, sirkali) were heavily damaged from seawater inundati<strong>on</strong>; sea based farms in Tharangampadi, Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam, Velankanni were severely hit by tsunami with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir bunds obliterated <strong>and</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir equipment including motors <strong>and</strong> pumps destroyed. Catches from wild fisheries will decline because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> damages to fishing boats/vessels <strong>and</strong> will impact <strong>on</strong> shrimp broodstock <strong>and</strong> also impacting adversely <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> likelihood <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> having a crop in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> next seas<strong>on</strong>. Kerala: total loss is estimated around Rs. 149 lakh, at least 14 shrimp hatcheries affected covering 4 districts (Kollam, Alleppey, Ernakulam, <strong>and</strong> Kannur). Most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se are small-scale hatcheries, but some may have employed a few local workers who are now livelihood being affected Tamil Nadu: total loss is estimated at around Rs. 627 lakh, which including a 120 ha <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> small-scale shrimp farms in Nagapattinam <strong>and</strong> Karaikal (P<strong>on</strong>dicherry) districts, <strong>and</strong> 11 hatcheries. The compound wall <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lobster fattening centre in Chennai was totally damaged. Andhra Pradesh: According to <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials 400 fish tanks were damaged. Un<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial estimated loss at Rs. 500 milli<strong>on</strong>. <strong>Aquaculture</strong> farms over 400 acres were also damaged. The state’s seafood industry accounts for 25-30 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> India total seafood exports. Most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hatcheries were not much affected except Thupilipalem in Nellore District. Seabass hatcheries in Thirumullaivasal were badly affected with <strong>on</strong>e farm totally submerged. Sources: • B.Vishnu Bhat. JD (Aqua) MPEDA; • C<strong>on</strong>tacts in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Aquaculture</strong> sectors • BOBP-IGO 4
• Website: (http://www.newkerala.com/newsdaily/news/features.phpacti<strong>on</strong>=fullnews&id=51744) • Y.C. Thampi Samraj, Project Director, RGCA 5