Port Blair: After recommendations of MPEDA, the Union Territory government has finally released its plans for fishing and export of tuna, a fish variety on large scale.

It is estimated that the population of tuna, the most sought after fish in Japan and other fish eating countries, accounts for nearly 75 per cent of the tuna wealth in the country. Its exports grew by 43 per cent in volume and 88 per cent in value during 2006-07.

The perspective plan for tuna-based commercial enterprise has been prepared with the help of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

Releasing the plan, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said, Chilled tuna is among the highest unit value earning forms of tuna exports, but large quantities still continue to be exported in frozen form.
The focus on tuna is necessary as we have to introduce more items into the marine product export basket. Today, there is a dangerous dependence on one commodity namely shrimps, said Jairam.

He further stated, “The Civil Aviation ministry’s help had been sought to introduce air transport facilities to Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo from Port Blair so that processed fish could be sent to potential markets at the earliest.”

G. Mohan Kumar, Chairman, MPEDA said, “The satellite office of MPEDA in Port Blair would be converted into a full fledged one. The island has a unique facility to breed pathogen-free tiger prawns.”

During the XI Plan Period, it is proposed to convert at least 800 fishing vessels to tuna long-liners and increase tuna exports to $500 million, Kumar said.

Sources said that Infrastructure costing Rs. 14 crore would be created within 18 months, which include training centres for fishermen, packing and export facility.

MPEDA has also identified Lakshadweep, Vizag and Tuticorin as the other main centres for tuna fishing in the country.