A NEW BEGINNING: Fisheries Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty opening the hygenic fish-handling centre at the Old Mangalore Port in Mangalore on Monday. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: The Government will soon take up the development of the third phase of construction of jetties at Mangalore and Malpe fisheries ports. Fisheries Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty said here on Monday that Rs. 30 crore had been earmarked for the development of Mangalore fisheries harbour. He was speaking at the inauguration of development projects.

Mr. Shetty said the number of fishing vessels and the volume of fish catch were increasing at both Malpe and Mangalore and the existing facilities for parking and landing the catch were inadequate.

Mr. Shetty said the Malpe harbour now had over 1, 000 vessels and parking had become very difficult. Mangalore had about 880 vessels, and the landing place was inadequate. To ease the parking problem at Mangalore fishing jetties, parking areas would be built across the Gurupur river on the Bengre Island where boats not going for fishing could be parked for repair and maintenance.

Mr. Shetty requested Michael Keelan, Director (Buying and Merchandising-Food) of Metro Cash & Carry India Pvt Ltd. to take up such projects even at Malpe fishing harbour. He announced that the company had also agreed to erect two lampposts at Mangalore fishing harbour.

Mr. Shetty said Hejmady fishing port would be developed immediately, and the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation would also be revived with a package of Rs. 2.75 crore.

Mr. Keelan, said the fishermen would have to employ hygienic methods of handling the catch. This would help them earn more by adding value to the fish catch and making it fit for export and internal consumption in the new markets.

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