Puducherry, February 13: Puducherry is set to reposition its traditional fishing community at the heart of a modern, export-driven marine economy. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy outlined an ambitious plan on Friday to transform fishermen into entrepreneurs and global seafood exporters.
Speaking at the final session of a two-day international workshop on the marine fisheries value chain in the Bay of Bengal region, the Chief Minister stated that a combination of central and union territory schemes will completely revolutionize the fisheries sector’s operations.
Rangasamy highlighted initiatives like the Integrated Port Development Scheme and Fisheries Processing Cluster, stating, “Fishermen will no longer be limited to just catching and selling fish. They will become business owners and international exporters.”
He further emphasized that Puducherry’s seafood, known for its taste and nutritional quality, has strong demand in both domestic and international markets.
This workshop, organized by the Bay of Bengal Program Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) in collaboration with the Puducherry government, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, National Fisheries Development Board, and Environmental Defense India Foundation, focused on value addition, processing technology, and market linkages.
A comprehensive roadmap was also presented to the Chief Minister to establish Puducherry as a high-value marine export hub.
Dr. P. Krishnan, Director of BOBP, noted that Puducherry is already outperforming the national benchmark, with an average catch of 6,095 kilograms of fish per trip—more than double the national average. Over half of its fishing vessels are equipped with engines exceeding 140 HP.
However, he pointed out that approximately 43 percent of fish leaves the union territory without value addition due to a weak cold chain system, high ice costs, and inadequate infrastructure.
The roadmap also addressed welfare concerns, including low subsidies compared to actual costs, limited insurance coverage, insufficient compensation during ban seasons, and poor safety equipment.
It also emphasized increased support for women, considering that there are already 24 active fishing women cooperative societies with over 15,000 members.
Fisheries Minister K. Lakshminarayanan described this forum as a platform that will create new employment opportunities and assist local fishermen in competing with multinational seafood companies.
FAO officials Angela Lentisco and Fisheries Director A. Mohammed Ismail also addressed attendees, stressing the importance of sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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