The Hindu Business Line : ‘Oceanic tuna resources under utilised’

Kochi, Jan. 11 Oceanic tuna resources are grossly under utilised and there exists no systematic or targeted fishery for it in the country, the Marine Products Export Development Authority has said.

However, India has a fairly good landing of coastal tuna from drift nets, trawling lines, hook and lines operated by small and medium mechanised boats.

While India has an estimated resource potential of 2,13,000 tonnes of Oceanic tuna, just about 40,000 tonnes are landed every year. But, of the estimated 65,000 tonnes of coastal tuna, the average annual landing is around 49,000 tonnes – over 75 per cent of the resource potential. This is mainly caught off the waters of the West coast and Lakshadweep islands.

Exports picking up

Of the total coastal tuna potential, little tuna constitutes 49 per cent, bullet tuna with 23 per cent, long tail with 13 per cent, skipjack at six per cent and others constituting nine per cent. However, the oceanic tuna has high export potential in the international markets. India’s oceanic tuna resources have been assessed as yellow fin accounting for 54 per cent, skipjack with 40 per cent and big eye at six per cent. Due to the concerted efforts of the Government and MPEDA, fishery and exports of oceanic tuna have begun to pick up.

Tuna exports, which was just $0.05 million in 1999-2000, have grown to $53.22 million in 2006-07. But this remains just a fraction of the true potential. There are some surprises in tuna export destinations with Tunisia emerging as the biggest destination followed by Thailand, Spain and Turkey.

The bulk of tuna export is in the frozen form which constitutes as much as 93 per cent. There is less value addition in this form of export, while greater value addition products such as chilled and canned form constitutes just four and three per cent. Kochi is the main port of export for tuna followed by Pipavav and Chennai.

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