Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman Leena Nair on Monday promised to extend full support to the Hudhud-hit fishing industry to put it back on track.
She told The Hindu after a visit to the fishing harbour here, which bore brunt of devastation with the sinking of 65 mechanised boats and damage to nearly 400 vessels that they would come to the rescue of cyclone-ravaged industry so as to meet the target set for seafood exports.
She said Visakhapatnam was an important centre for seafood exports and the government would not ignore its potential. Before cyclone battered the coast, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitaraman visited the city and announced that they would develop Visakhapatnam as a hub for seafood exports by offering single window clearance to investments in food processing.
Ms. Nair later inspected the damaged hatcheries near Mangamaripeta and held a meeting with NABARD officials and stakeholders of the industry to find out ways to extend finance to the boat owners to repair their vessels and procure new one in the event of complete damage to the boats.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has already issued a GO Ms. No. 13 on October 22 to provide cash compensation to the boat owners based on extent of loss suffered by them.
Fishing undertaken post Hudhud has disappointed the fishermen as the boats have returned with a poor catch.
"Unless the Centre and the State Government come to our rescue we will be forced to shutdown the fishing operations for good," said Federation of Indian Fishery Industry president Y.G.K. Murti.
