Puducherry, Feb 13 (NationPress) Puducherry is poised to redefine its traditional fishing community by placing them at the core of a contemporary, export-oriented marine economy. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy unveiled a bold initiative on Friday aimed at converting local fishers into entrepreneurs and global seafood exporters.

During his address at the conclusion of the two-day International Workshop on Marine Fisheries Value Chain in the Bay of Bengal Region, hosted in Puducherry, the Chief Minister highlighted how a blend of Central and Union Territory programs will revolutionize the fisheries sector's operations.

“Fishermen will transition from merely catching and selling fish to becoming business owners and international exporters,” Rangasamy stated, referencing projects like the Integrated Port Development Scheme and the Fisheries Processing Cluster.

He emphasized that Puducherry’s seafood is renowned for its taste and nutritional value, which is in high demand in both national and international markets.

The workshop was a collaborative effort by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) and the Government of Puducherry, in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, National Fisheries Development Board, and Environmental Defence India Foundation. The focus was on value addition, processing technology, and market connections.

A detailed strategy to establish Puducherry as a high-value marine export hub was also presented to the Chief Minister.

According to BOBP Director Dr. P. Krishnan, Puducherry already surpasses national averages, with an average per-trip yield of 6,095 kg, more than double the national figure, and over half of its vessels equipped with engines exceeding 140 HP.

However, he pointed out that nearly 43 percent of the fish catch leaves the Union Territory without any value addition, mainly due to inadequate cold chain systems, high ice costs, and infrastructure deficiencies.

The roadmap also raised welfare issues, such as lower subsidies compared to actual costs, insufficient insurance coverage, limited ban-season compensation, and subpar safety equipment.

Furthermore, it advocated for increased support for women, noting the presence of 24 fisherwomen cooperative societies with over 15,000 members already engaged.

Fisheries Minister K. Lakshminarayanan referred to the forum as a catalyst for creating new job opportunities and enabling local fishers to compete with multinational seafood corporations.

FAO representative Angela Lentisco and Fisheries Director A. Mohamed Ismail also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector.