Sundarban Development Board (SDB) has a small fisheries project portfolio. SDB began implementation of an AFAD financed multi-sectional project in the 1980s, which included a polyculture component for shrimp and brackishwater finfish farming at Jharkhali (erstwhile Charkhali Colony) under Basanti Block. It was intended that the fish ponds be owned and operated by the landless farmers and fisherman (each owning 0.5 ha) of the farm surrounding area, and were to maintain their livelihood as well as to increase fish production in the area. Some of the activities being carried out :.

Providing Fishery Inputs and Training to the Beneficiaries:

Make use of the derelict ponds of Sundarban, Air Breathing fishes are released, Every household of Sundarban has 6 to 8 kottah of pond. IMC fingerling is released in this pond to augment production. Fish feed is the most costly input in fresh water culture practice. Fish farmers are unable to buy fish feed from the market. The fish feed distributed free of cost to the farmers help to maximize the profit per unit area of production. This has enabled the fish farmers to rise up above the below poverty level.

Training and Extension:

Fisheries Division with the assistance of the Branch Offices and their Growth Centers regularly extend training to the farmers/peoples/fisher folk in different aspects, mainly with the objectives to provide alternative livelihood and to withdraw them from Baby Crab Catching and to utilize their water bodies in and around fruitfully in the form of training meeting, personal visit, pH measurement and technical advices etc. In these training programmes, the fish farmers are taught scientific methods of fish farming.

Physical Achievement