The Hindu : Business : Tuna exports increase steadily: MPEDA

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Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006
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Tuna exports increase steadily: MPEDA

Special Correspondent

Resource potential of oceanic tuna is estimated at 2.13 lakh tonnes

Kochi: The export of the much sought-after tuna fish from India is going up steadily, according to sources in the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) here.

Tuna is considered the third major fish commodity traded internationally after shrimp and ground fish. It forms nine per cent of the international trading in fishery products in terms of value.

Resource potential of oceanic tuna in the Indian EEZ is estimated to be 2.13 lakh tonnes. The landing of oceanic tuna is negligible, that is around less than 20,000 tonnes a year. However, during the past couple of years harvesting of deep-sea tuna has increased as a result of the efforts of the MPEDA.

It is estimated that nearly 53,000 mechanised boats and 65 active deep-sea fishing vessels operate in the Indian waters. During the current year, the Union Government cleared the MPEDA proposal for the conversion of both existing mechanised and deep-sea vessels to tuna long liners. This would help tap tuna resources. Many vessel owners have come forward to convert their vessels to tuna long liners.

As a result of the MPEDA's efforts in the propagation of the tuna long line fishery technology and training imparted to fishermen for the proper and hygienic handling and preservation, chilled tuna in the `Sashimi grade' could be exported to premium markets such as the United States of America and Japan, says sources here.

Exporters in the Seafood Exporters Association of India say that they have started getting higher unit price for their exports.

This, in turn, has helped in higher landing price thereby increasing the income of the fishermen involved in tuna fishing.

This has encouraged more fishermen to come in groups to convert their vessels to tuna long liners.

The organisation also promotes the concept of group fishing to increase the efficiency of fishing and reduce fuel cost.

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