Bhubaneswar, Oct. 15: Odisha State Fishermen's Co-operative Federation Limited (Fishfed) today started the online sale of fresh fish through its Chilika Fresh outlets.

The facility, which would be available within the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area to begin with, will later be extended to other parts of the state. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik launched the online sale portal during a workshop on fisheries development here.

Chilika Fresh with its two outlets - one near Siripur Market and the other near Horticulture Directorate in Nayapalli - has become popular in the city with fish and crabs from in and around the Chilika lake being sold through it.

Fish varieties such as bhakur, bhekti, hilsa, khainga, khurunti, pomfret, kundala, paniakhia, sahali, rohu and telia are available at Chilika Fresh with the cost range of Rs 170 to Rs 1,500 a kilogram. Dry prawns and khainga fish will also be available online at www.chilikafresh.in.

Freshwater, brackish water and marine fish, along with crabs and lobsters are sold at Chilika Fresh. Subsequently, fish products such as dry fish, canned fish and pickled fish will also be sold to consumers.

Naveen said that apart from formulating a comprehensive fisheries policy, the state government was taking proactive steps to help aquaculture farmers get fish seeds at subsidised cost and ensure pucca houses for the fishermen in the near future. He also distributed appointment letters to 124 assistant fisheries officers.

"A flat delivery charge of Rs 50 will be added to each sale. For bulk purchases, buyers have to book the fish at least 24 hours in advance as Fishfed needs to source the fish from fishermen's cooperatives," Fisheries and animal resources development minister Pradeep Maharathy told The Telegraph.

Fisheries and animal resources development secretary Bishnupada Sethi said: "The co-operative plans to open more Chilika Fresh outlets in Bhubaneswar within the next three months. There is also a plan to open more units through public private partnership in Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur."

Mrutyunjay Tripathy, a regular at the Chilika Fresh kiosk near Siripur, said: "The online availability of fish products will help people to get the stuff without coming to the fish markets. This will help save time."

Fishfed is an apex body of state's primary fishermen co-operative societies, which also looks after the welfare of poor fishermen.