As part of the 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Sagar Parikrama Phase III program from Gujarat to Maharashtra will begin tomorrow, at Hazira Port, Surat. It is an evolutionary journey in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders saluting our great freedom fighters, sailors, and fishers.
It is an initiative aiming to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders and facilitate their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs being implemented by the Government such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
Phase-III ‘Sagar Parikrama will be covering the coastal areas of northern Maharashtra namely, Satpati, Vasai, Versova, Sassoon Dock, and other areas of Mumbai during 20-21 February 2023.
Maharashtra State has 720 Km of coastline covering 5 coastal districts Thane, Raigad, Greater Mumbai, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.
Union Minister of Fisheries, Parshottam Rupala, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary (Fisheries) senior officials of the Department of Fisheries will grace the event.
Sagar Parikrama will focus on achieving a sustainable balance between the utilisation of marine fisheries resources for national food security and the livelihoods of coastal fisher communities, as well as the protection of marine ecosystems, in order to bridge the gaps between fisher communities and their expectations, develop fishing villages, upgrade and create infrastructure such as fishing harbours and landing centres, and ensure sustainable and responsible development.
The Sagar Parikrama programme will be celebrated in all coastal States/UTs along a pre-determined sea route down from Gujarat, Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands in order to learn about the problems of Coastal Fisher folk.
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