The area of operation of KIDS has a vast stretch of coastal areas and is directly and indirectly connected with the fishermen throughout the programmes. The fishermen as a whole can be divided into three categories with regard to their nature of job:

• Traditional Inland Fishermen
• Medical camps
• Traditional Marine Fishermen
• Fishermen Labourers in Boats

Different welfare and development programmes have been implemented for the fishermen families of these three categories separately. The fishermen community truly benefit from the different interventions including awareness campaigns on relevant subjects, health insurance, scholarships and children’s libraries, that have an imperative role in the integrated development of these communities.

• Cage Fish Culture
• Screwpine Craft
• Water Hyacinth Craft
• Rabbit Rearing
• Japanese Quail Rearing

Now, as a result of short term or immediate relief activities as well as long term initiatives or permanent rehabilitation initiatives, the Tsunami affected people are coming back to normalcy.

CAGE FISH CULTURE

Cage fish culture is a practice of growing fishes in confined areas which facilitate feeding, harvesting and other management procedures and has been established as an intensive fish farming system, that contribute much to the aquaculture fish production. The project “Introduction of Cage fish Culture for poverty alleviation of fishers of the kerala, India” was implemented by KIDS with the collaboration of Dept of Fisheries - Kerala, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), ASR Marine consultancy and New Zealand Aid for International Development (NZAID) at the confluence of the right arm of Periyar River with the Arabian Sea.

The project was implemented through Inland fisherman SHGs in the Sathar Island, Moothakunnam at Ernakulam District. Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer) was selected for cage culture because of its good market demand and aptness to culture in confined areas. Hatchery technology for Asian Seabass being developed by Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai and its seeds available at Rajiv Gandhi Center for Aquaculture (RGCA), Seergali and Pancham Hatchery, Mumbai, helped KIDS in the successful implementation of the programme, even being a beginner in this sector. Floating cages were constructed with locally available raw materials with the participation of the SHG members in technical support with the KIDS’ project team. The cages were sited 25 mts away from the shore of the island, in the kottapuram back waters. Prior to stocking in the cages the fry’s were reared up to 8cm size (fingerling stage), which is the appropriate size for stocking into the cages. The rearing was done at the Regional Shrimp Hatchery Azhikode. Low cost feed from the locally available trash fish has been developed by the project team for ensuring the economic viability of rearing Seabass. After attaining the stockable size, the fingerlings were transferred into the cages for grow out culture. The major responsibilities like feeding, cleaning and other management works of the cages were done by the SHG members and they used to collect trash fish from the near by fish landing centers of Munambam and Azhikode for feeding the fishes in the cage. The culture period was for six months during which the fishes attained an average weight of 650 gm, which is the admirable size for the market.

Photo Gallery

Awareness seminar for Fisherfolks

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Cage fish Culture