The Department implements a number of direct aid and incentives programs to help fish farmers, fishermen and fish processors. A number of these are implemented by the Department itself while some are carried out in close cooperation or jointly with other government agencies.
The following direct aids categories are given:
- Fish cage materials (Netlon/netting, ropes, lumber, floats, etc)
- Seaweed culture materials (floats, ropes and monofilaments, etc.)
- Freshwater Fish Broodstock incentives
- Mollusc culture materials (Netlon, culture racks, etc.)
- Fish processing/fish feed processing equipment
- Fish/prawn pond culture materials (pumps, paddle wheels, pipes, lime, etc.)
- Hatchery materials (plankton stock, fish eggs, aeration equipment, etc.)
- Small fishing boats
- Fishing gears
- Marine equipment (outboard engines, winches, line haulers, cooler boxes, etc.)
These direct aids are given with four major objectives in mind:
- To help small-scale farmers with some initial capital to start or expand their enterprise. This is targeted to improve their incomes and thereby improve their standard of living.
- To attract new entrepreneurs and operators to enter the local aquaculture industry.
- To help poor fishermen in enhancing their fishing capability and thereby improve their incomes.
- To encourage fishermen to have an additional or alternative source of income or economic activity.
