The Gazetteers Department

THE FISHERIES OFFICE AT RATNAGIRI is perhaps the oldest district office of the Fisheries Department. This office was started in 1936 when the administration of Government fish curing yards in Ratnagiri and Karwar districts was transferred to the Fisheries Department by the then Customs and Salt Department.

Superintendent of Fisheries (Coast), Ratnagiri, is entrusted with the supervision of all fisheries activities and execution of fishery schemes in the district.

Staff in the sub-offices is divided into (1) of fish curing yards and (2) of Government fisheries schools. In January, 1959, there were 21 fish curing yards employing 41 persons and four fisheries schools employing 43 persons in the district. Each yard is managed by a yard officer or a petty yard officer. Each school is manned by a headmaster, craft instructor, assistant teachers and necessary establishment. Besides, 13 persons were employed in the Marine Biological Research Station at Ratnagiri. The total of fishery personnel numbered 112 in January 1959.

Duties of the Superintendent.

Duties of the Superintendent of Fisheries are as under:-

(1) Co-ordination and supervision of all fishery activities in the district.

(2) Inspection and administration of fish curing yards.

(3) Inspection and administration of Government fisheries schools.

(4) Formation and supervision of the fisheries co-operative societies.

(5) To investigate applications from fishermen for loan and other financial assistance from Government.

(6) To watch and effect loan recoveries.

(7) To explain the various fishery schemes to the fishermen and to encourage them to take advantage of the same.

(8) To collect statistics of fish, fishermen and their gear.

(9) To serve as member of the District Development Board and its sub-committees.

(10) To work as department's representative on the Board of Directors of Fisheries Co-operative Societies.

(11) Survey of new sheets of fresh water to ascertain their suitability for fish culture.

(12) Stocking of tanks with suitable varieties of fish.

Developmental Schemes.

With a view to improving the socio-economic condition of the fishermen and to augment the fish supply, several developmental schemes are introduced by the Fisheries Department. The fisheries developmental schemes introduced by the department can be divided into three sections viz. (a) Konkan Vikas Programme; (b) general administration of the district; (c) fisheries research. This has necessitated appointments of three independent officers viz., (1) Assistant Director of Fisheries (Off-shore) in charge of Konkan Vikas Programme; (2) Superintendent of Fisheries in charge of general administration; and (3) Curator, Marine Biological Research Station in charge of fisheries research.

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