PESHAWAR, Dec 23: Communities involvement for development of fisheries showed good result as NWFP obtained an additional production of 18.211 metric tons of white meat through this procedure during 2000-2001.

“This supplementary production of fish was achieved from 58 fish farms established in Kohat district on experimental basis jointly by the Sarhad Rural Support Corporation (SESC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through involvement of communities,”informed an official of NWFP Fisheries department.

These farms, which have been established over an area of 80.75 acres, also produced 138,150 fish seed for stocking in natural water bodies and supplied to private sector and other district fisheries for replenishing their stocking requirements, added the official.

Similarly, the indirect benefits of these farms was supply of 70,050 fish seed to private sector on subsidized rates, provision of job opportunities to 498 persons in different disciplines of sale of fish, watch & ward of fish farms and sports-game fishing and provision of free extension services and training facilities to private fish farms.

Besides targeted income, an additional revenue of Rs16,500 was also generated through recovery of fines over 51 cases of illegal fishing.

“Presently communities involvement for improvement of fish production is confined only to Kohat district and if it was extended to other areas of the province, the outcome will be very positive,” observed the official.

The NWFP government was attaching great importance on involvement of communities for conservation, protection and development of different sectors like forest, wildlife etc.

Under this strategy, schemes are introduced through which communities earn some money for their development and the objective of conservation and development is also achieved.—APP