1
A fishery pond in Kohima district. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur, April 26 (MExN): The state Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources has adopted a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to the movement of aquaculture farmers, fish workers and transport and marketing of fish, fish seed, feed and inputs for aquaculture activities such as fishing in larger inland water bodies.
The SOPs will be applicable to all the activities related to inland fisheries and aquaculture industry operations and implemented through the District Administration including Fisheries Administration and need to be strictly followed by all stakeholders including fish farmers, farm workers/hatchery operators, marginal fishers and fish marketing personnel (wholesalers/retailers), the Department stated.
Relaxations allowed for inland fishery activities can be withdrawn at any time by the Government in case of non-compliance of SOPs or for such other reasons as may be decided by the Government of Nagaland or the Government of India, it added.
Fish production units/farms and hatcheries
Fish production units, fish farms and fish seed hatcheries identified by the Department will be allowed to carry out fishery activities like pond preparation and management, fish harvesting, seed production, packing and selling etc. subject to the compliance of the guidelines issued by the MHA and SOPs issued by the department.
Social distancing and proper hygienic practices such as disinfectant spraying at the pond/farm sites/infrastructure sites/hatcheries, disinfection of farm implements, etc. shall be maintained during all farming/operational activities. Arrangement of personal protective items such as hand sanitizer, soap, face mask etc. shall be ensured at the place of work, it said.
Visitors shall not be permitted inside the farm/production units till situation becomes normal
Vehicles (carriers) of farm inputs, farm produce and fish seeds shall be monitored by the District Fisheries Officer who in consultation with the district administration shall issue necessary permit/pass for their transport to the destination. It advised against detaining live seed vehicles enroute and entrusted the nodal officer to maintain details of seed movement along with vehicle and staff.
Farm owners/farmers shall declare and share the list of workers/personnel to the nodal Fishery officer(s) posted within their jurisdiction for maintaining the details of the workers/personnel in the register. It also advised farmers/workers who develop symptoms like cough, fever, shortness of breath, body ache, etc. to inform the nodal officer for further action.
Farms have been directed to procure inputs locally and limit movement of workers within their respective districts. Distribution of fish seeds to farmers shall be done only by Department personnel after observing all safety norms, it added.
Inland water bodies
The Department has allowed harvesting of fish from large water bodies like reservoirs, wetlands, lakes, rivers, etc by using smaller country crafts with minimum number of fishers.
Community fishing has been put on hold and only marginal fishers are allowed to fish from the larger water bodies with the condition that they remain in their designated fish landing sites only. It also said that minimum handling of catch should be ensured onboard as well as at the landing centres till the fishes are disposed of to the traders.
All social distancing and other guidelines have been recommended for those involved in these activities.
Fish markets (Wholesale and retail)
In addition to strict adherence to preventive guidelines prescribed by the government, all dealers have been directed to sanitize fish collection centres/markets (wholesale and retail) on a daily basis.
Fish shall be transported to nearby markets/stalls/ designated areas through sanitized vehicles for which pass/permits shall be issued by district authorities. It also directed fish vendors/retailers to restrict movement from one area to other distant areas so as to avoid contamination.
It also advised for minimum handling of fish and adherence to all sanitation/hygienic methods as prescribed by the local food safety department.
Further, the department stated that the SOPs are not exhaustive and other appropriate measures may be included to ensure compliance with the advisories issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and Government of Nagaland.
