Mangaluru, Mar 4: It is the largest marine shell of a sea snail called Australian trumpet. It's one of the attractions at an exhibition of marine shells at the three-day Matsya Mela' which began at TMA Pai International Convention Centre here on Friday.
The event was organised jointly by the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Fisheries College, National Fisheries Development Board and KFDC.
The shell collector Firoz Ahamed from Alappuzha in Kerala has displayed the shells. Measuring 500 x 800 mm in size this thick heavy shell has pointed spire, long siphonal canal and irregular, prominent and finer spirals. It has creamy yellow to pale yellow colour.
He has in his collection shells of more than 500 species. Of them many have been displayed. There is sun set shell, elephant tusk shell, Indian tibia, striated cone shell and the like.
Mr. Ahamed said he started shell collection as a hobby when he was eight years old. He has been doing it for the past 19 years.
There is a small shell called Nassarius pictus. Another shell called Indian volute is large and resembles a mini hat. The shells were major attraction for many visitors which included schoolchildren.
Recognising the environmental conservation activity the Kerala government presented him with Vana Mitra Award for 2016.
College of Fisheries and other government departments have organised the mela.
Mobile fish canteen
Speaking at the inaugural programme Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) Managing Director V?K?Shetty said KFDC will open a mobile Matsyadarshini (fish canteen) at Pilikula Nisargadhama on March 6. The mobile Matsyadarshini is built on a Tata Ace Super vehicle chassis.
He said the mobile canteen will supply fresh and value added products of fish to customers. The mobile vehicle has a refrigerator, equipment for fish storage, electric grills for frying the fish, overhead tank to supply water and facility to collect the fish waste and other necessities. All the systems inside the vehicle are battery operated. The cost of the vehicle, including the chassis, is Rs 12 lakh, he added.
Shetty said the KFDC has already identified a few locations for the sale of fish food. It has been decided to place the mobile canteen at Pilikula Nisargadhama every Sunday for the public to savour the delicacies, he noted.
Mobile fish outlet
He said a mobile fish outlet will also be launched in Mangaluru shortly. The fish will be cut and sold to the customers at selected areas. The outlet will have chiller to preserve the fish, water facility, facility to cut and clean the fish and a separate counter to collect the waste from the fish.The estimated cost of the vehicle is also Rs 12 lakh. Apart from selling the fish, the vehicle will be taken to various Matsyamelas and Krishi Melas to be held across the State to sell fish delicacies, he added.
The KFDC MD said the KFDC fish outlet will be opened at 10 places in Hyderabad-Karnataka region within the next two years. The fish outlets are opened with the assistance from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The Matsyadarshini at Cubbon Park will be upgraded to cater to a large number of customers shortly, he added.
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, in his inaugural address, said a system where the fish price is decided in Mangaluru should be evolved in the future, just like the way cardamom price is decided in Alleppey for the country. The price of the fish should be made available online to bring in stability in the market. Fishing industry provides a lot of job opportunities, he said and added that the export of goods to Lakshadweep should be encashed for the export of value-added products of fish caught in Lakshadweep.
Fish catch declining'
KFDC Chairman Hiriyanna said the fish catch is on decline though the demand for fish is increasing. The fingerlings should be released in the inland water for the fish to thrive in the sea. There is a need to support the fisheries sector, he added.
In his presidential address, Fisheries College Dean Dr K M Shankar said there is a need to promote cage culture to boost fisheries production. The marketing of fish also needs to be developed in the country, he added.
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