The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Parshottam Rupala visited the Muttathara fishing village and Matsyafed fishnet factory today as part of the Central initiative Sagar Parikrama.<br />''<br />'' The seventh phase of the Sagar Parikrama programme which aims to resolve the issues of fishermen and facilitate their economic upliftment through various Central schemes, concluded in Thiruvananthapuram. <br />''<br />''The Union Minister interacted with fishermen and offered them Central support. Mr. Rupala also visited the Vizhinjam international port site and reviewed the construction and progress of the project. Port authorities briefed the Minister that the first ship will berth at the port in September, and the first phase of the project will be completed by May 2024. M. Vincent MLA, VICL Managing Director Adeela Abdulla and other dignitaries attended the meeting.<br />''<br />''As part of the Sagar Parikrama, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala and Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan visited various coastal locations in Kerala and interacted with representatives of the fishermen community. The programme started on the 8th of June in Kasaragod district and covered coastal areas in Mahe, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kochi, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram. Sagar Parikrama, which offers support to fishermen through various central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and Kisan Credit Card, is expected to have an impact on improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people in coastal areas.<br />