The ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is organising a stakeholders’ meet on development of tuna fisheries in the islands in association with the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology here on July 8 (Saturday). The meet will be held at ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, said a press release here.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are endowed with rich marine resources with an estimated 1.48 lakh tonnes of exploitable resources. According to Fishery Survey of India estimates, the oceanic waters around Andaman Islands are rich fishing grounds, specifically for tuna and tuna-like fish, for which the projected exploitable potential is around 65,000 tonnes as against a figure of the current exploitation below 1,000 tonnes per annum.
The Andaman and Nicobar administration will develop infrastructure for tuna fishing and processing to give a boost to tuna fishing in the islands, which may lead to the development of the fisheries sector in the region. The objective of the meet is to offer a platform to industrialists and entrepreneurs to explore the prospects of investing in tuna fishing in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Anindo Mazumdar, Chief Secretary of the Islands administration, will chair the meeting. Ramesh Verma, Fisheries Secretary, along with directors and scientists from ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair; ICAR-CIFT, Kochi; ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi, and officials of the departments of Fisheries and Industries, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, will attend.
