Minister stresses need for further exploitation of Tuna resources in
isles water

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, July 7, 2007
Staff Correspondent

Port Blair, July 6

The Minister for State for Commerce, Shri Jairam Ramesh has
underlined the need for preparing a concrete action plan for the fuller
exploitation of Tuna resources in these islands for increasing in its
export. He was speaking as the chief guest of the workshop on
development of Tuna resources in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at Fortune
Resort Bay Island here today. The workshop, which was graced among
others, by Shri Janak Digal, Development Commissioner and the Jt.
Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Smt Bharti Sihag, was organized by
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

The Minister said that the exploitation of tuna resource for export
is an integral part of the development of these islands as it has an
export potential with the availability of the market in the south east
as well as the far-east nations. Moreover, the Minister said, major
investments have to be made for infrastructure such as cold storage,
fish landing centre, fish processing unit which are required for
development of fisheries industries in these islands.

The Chief Secretary, Shri Chherring Targay while speaking on the
occasion, expressed gratitude to MPEDA for taking initiatives towards
the development of marine resources, especially Tuna which is in
abundance in these islands. He expressed hope that the discussions
during the workshop would be very fruitful and beneficial for the stake
holders, fishermen and the general public of the islands as well.
Fisheries, Tourism and Shipping were the main sectors taken up for
discussion in the Island Development Authority meeting and therefore we
have to give importance toward the development of these sectors for the
overall development of the islands, he said.

Multimedia presentations were made on Tuna resource of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands and promotion of Tuna Industries in A&N Islands by Dr. M
V John, Scientist, FSI, Mumbai and Dr. N G K Pillai, Principal
Scientist, CMFRI, Kochi respectively. Discussions and interactions were
also held on the various issues pertaining to the exploitation of Tuna
resource for export purpose from the islands.

The Minister directed MPEDA to prepare of plan of action within
three months. The Chief Secretary, while concluding the discussion,
suggested that the plan of action to be prepared by MPEDA should be
submitted to the Administration at a draft stage so as to finalize it by
including the suggestions of different stake-holders as well as to study
it keeping in view the existing regulation, which has been approved in
these islands’ context.

Earlier, Shri G Mohan Kumar, Chairman, MPEDA in his welcome address,
highlighted the objective of the workshop, which concluded with the vote
of thanks proposed by Shri Kuruvilla Thomas, Director (Marketing), MPEDA.

Later, the Minister visited Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aqua Culture at
Kodiaghat, the project being implemented by MPEDA and was apprised of
the development process for hatching of brood stocks for tiger shrimp.
The Minister was accompanied by the Chief Secretary, Shri C Targay and
Smt Bharti Sihag, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Commerce.