Government Sanctions ₹59 Crore Initiative for Tuna Fish Export from Andaman
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New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Department of Fisheries has sanctioned the proposals from the Andaman & Nicobar Administration under the Prime Minister’s scheme, totaling ₹58.91 crore with a central contribution of ₹31.48 crore, aimed at enhancing fisheries and bolstering the infrastructure necessary for the export of tuna fish from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as per the details presented in Parliament.
The substantial fisheries infrastructure initiatives approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) encompass the procurement of seven deep-sea fishing vessels, upgrading 10 existing fishing vessels for export readiness, and establishing 29 cold storage and ice plants, as stated by Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh in a written response in the Rajya Sabha.
The Department of Fisheries has designated a Tuna Cluster in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). An investors’ meeting was conducted on November 14 at Swaraj Dweep to highlight investment opportunities within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has reported that to harness the unexploited potential within the islands, they have devised an action plan to encourage direct seafood exports from the territory, in collaboration with stakeholders, addressing the current gaps in the value chain, the minister indicated.
MPEDA has established a Desk Office in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to streamline fisheries trade from the islands. Furthermore, MPEDA has recognized a cluster of fishing boats in the islands to provide onboard tuna handling training for local fishers, as the minister elaborated.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has reported that the islands boast a rich diversity of tuna species, including both oceanic and neritic types such as Yellowfin tuna, Skipjack tuna, and Bigeye tuna.
The total projected potential yield of Oceanic tuna and Neritic tuna in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands stands at 64,500 metric tonnes. Currently, the harvest is significantly below this potential, indicating a considerable unexploited growth opportunity in the sector, he concluded.
