The Hindu Business Line : Seafood meet focuses on deep sea fishing

There is need for a pragmatic deep sea fishing policy to exploit the EEZ waters and formation of joint ventures in deep sea fishing, especially tuna, says the MPEDA Vice-Chairman.

Our Bureau

Kochi, Feb. 8 The India International Seafood Show – 2008 commenced here on Friday with a call to tap the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters for deep sea fishing, especially the untapped tuna reserves.

The MPEDA Chairman, Mr G. Mohan Kumar, pointed out that seafood export was confronted with issues such as rupee appreciation, acute shortage of raw material and anti-dumping duty on Indian shrimp by the US.

On account of the reduced fish catch in the eastern and western coasts, there had been a fall in the exports from April to December 2007 compared to the same period of the previous year. Efforts by MPEDA to bring ‘brackish water aquaculture’ to newer areas like Gujarat and Maharashtra has started paying off, he said, adding that MPEDA would soon be launching a global brand equity campaign, he said.

Policy needed

In his address, Mr A.J. Tharakan, Vice-Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), stressed the need for a pragmatic deep sea fishing policy to exploit the EEZ waters and formation of joint ventures in deep sea fishing, especially tuna. Deep sea fishing is a capital intensive activity requiring a fishing culture and expertise and therefore joint ventures are necessary to make these operations commercially viable, he said.

Calling upon the authorities to expand brackish water aquaculture with the introduction of new varieties, including Vannamie shrimp, he said that selective introduction of Vannamei shrimp culture would help the industry to have a well-balanced mix of black tiger and Vannamei production to meet international market demands.

He also stressed the need for the consolidation of seafood industry to achieve global scale.

Unless there is a major consolidation of production, sales and marketing among the larger seafood companies, the Indian seafood industry will remain a marginal business incapable of effectively competing globally and creating a recognised international brand, he said.

Entrepreneurs should focus on value-added products and make it a a major item in their export basket, according to the State Fisheries Minister, Mr S. Sarma.

The State Government, he said, had taken all effective measures to increase the production of ornamental fishes and has proposed to set up an aquaculture park in Kochi, which would facilitate tourist attraction and can also be used as a marine biological research centre.

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