Sources in the state government said the government is anticipating a total fish production of 9.5 lakh tonnes in 1997-1998. "We are hoping that total fish production will be 9.5 lakh tonnes, of which inland fish prodcution will be around 7.74 lakh tonnes and 1.76 lakh tonnes from the marine sector. In 1996-1997, fish production in the state was 9.37 lakh tonnes and in 1995-1996 it was 8.93 lakh tonnes," sources said.

The Economic Review for 1997-1998 placed in the state assembly by the finance minister Asim Dasgupta added that apart from the organised sector, fish production at the brackish water bodies has also increased.

"In addition to this, production of fish from the brackish water bodies increased from 0.41 lakh tonnes in 1995-1996 to 0.57 lakh tonnes in 1996-1997. Moreover, a number of sewage fed fisheries are in operation in thestate. Fish production in these fisheries increased 19.76 thousand tonnes in 1995-1996 to 20.007 thousand tonnes in 1996-1997," the report noted. However the anticipated production during 1997-1998 in these sectors was not available to the government officials. Fish seed production in the state also increased from 8,180 million in 1995-1996 to 8,435 million in 1996-1997, surpassing the target of 8,400 million set for the year. In 1997-1998, it is expected that fish seed production will be around 8,500 million. Government officials said that despite the rising production in the last decade, the state is yet to be self sufficient in this field.

"We are still buying a lot of fish from other states and the most of it comes from Andhra Pradesh, despite the rise in the fish production. However the deficit supply has been considerably reduced and by the end of the Ninth Five Year Plan we are hopeful that we will be sufficient in terms of fish requirement," officials said. The Economic Review has also accepted thispoint but added that the state government has been able to check the fish prices by increasing the production.

"The rising trend in fish production in the state has to a large extent kept fish prices stable, while prices of other daily consumption items have soared. Given the place of fish in Bengali diet this is a significant achievement," the report noted. For the last eight years, West Bengal has been winning the first prize from National Productivity Council for its success in fisheries sector.

Dasgupta in the report also said that the state government followed some basic strategies, which proved successful. "Apart from ensuring the growth of the fisheries sector by bringing in new water bodies under scientific pisiculture through extension services, the strategy involves the improvement of productivity of existing fisheries by promoting scientific fish farming practices through organised training of fisherfolk, by encouraging the use of improved technological inputs by provision of subsidies and byensuring the flow of institutional credit to poor fish farmers and fishermen's cooperatives," the report said.