mangalore today

Matsyotsava (fish festival), a great public event at Pilikula on July 16


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 17,2017: It was a big hit event and celebration at Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama  on July 16, Sunday; the well conceived Matsyotsava (fish festival) hooked a huge crowd of fish lovers of DK. This annual event saw fish seedlings let into the Pilikula Lake and  last year ’s retrieved for use.

At this fish festival, over 500 kg of fish, each ranging from 1 kg to 11 kg, were caught, while the Nisargadhama earned more than  Rs. 55,000 from the sale.

At least 6,000 enthusiasts were estimated to have  visited Pilikula Lake to participate in the Matsyotsava as well as boating. They bid for every fish in the auction, and all stock was finished early in the afternoon.

 

 

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Apart from fishing in the lake, people flocked stalls selling sea fish and those preparing various delicacies set up by the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation. The corporation earned over Rs. 1 lakh income through sale of sea fish and delicacies, according to Nisargadhama officials.

Inaugurating the Matsyotsava, Minister of State for Fisheries Pramod Madhwaraj said the government would extend all support to boost tourism and aquaculture at Pilikula which has abundant water sources.

He said the government has already released Rs. 10 crore towards developing aqua culture. The proposal to establish an Oceanarium at Pilikula at a cost of Rs. 200 crore is being examined by the government, Minister Madhwaraj added. The Minister noted that fish, rich with vitamins, has been the regular staple for people in the coastal region. It is also completely free from pesticides and insecticides. The government is making every effort to promote and support fishing and allied activities.

The management should focus on providing tourist and water sports amenities at the Nisargadhama, Minister Madhwaraj, who also holds the Youth Empowerment and Sports portfolio, suggested. Later, the Minister released fish seedlings into the lake, which would grow in a year.

Speaking on the occasion, Moodabidri MLA K. Abhayachandra Jain urged the Minister to get at least Rs. 10 lakh released for the proposed Kambala event at the Nisargadhama.

District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Government Chief Whip at Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza, Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo, Zilla Panchayat President Meenakshi Shanthigodu, Moodushedde Gram Panchayat President Hariprasad, Pilikula Zoological Park Director H. Jayaprakash Bhandary and others were present in the midst of a sea of public visitors.