Tuna exports by air to Japan to begin in two to three months

The first consignment of tuna will be airlifted from Visakhapatnam to Japan via Singapore in two to three months.

Disclosing this after flagging off the maiden expedition of NIO-CSIR’s first indigenously built research vessel Sindhu Sadhana in Andaman from the Visakhapatnam port on Sunday, MP and BJP State president K. Haribabu said arrangements had been made for sending tuna by air to Japan. It would be transported to Singapore directly from the flight under operation from Visakhapatnam International Airport.

Stating that tuna was most sought after in Japan, Europe and other overseas markets, he said the ocean research by NIO would go a long way not only in throwing light on changing weather conditions and exploration of deep-sea minerals but also in optimising exports of seafood like tuna, shrimps and crabs.

Tuna, which is highly migratory, moves very fast in search of temperature suitable to it.

The study by NIO on seawater temperature and behaviour of tidal waves would throw light on migratory pattern so as to increase tuna exports.

Thanking NIO for choosing Visakhapatnam for launching the maiden cruise of MV Sindhu Sadhana, he said the city had not only the potential to become an industrial hub but also an important destination for oceanographic research.

NIO-Goa Director S.W.A. Naqvi recalled NIO’s association with the city since 1950s with the support of experts from Andhra University and said they would be happy if the authorities cleared the problems to enable them to have approach to the site allotted to NIO for construction of their own research lab at Yendada.