Considering the demand for marine products, a working group on fisheries for the 11th Plan mooted introduction of 234 additional vessels, including 58 longliners to capture tuna, billfish and oceanic sharks.
The working group has also asked for introduction of 96 pole & line and purse-seiner for catching skipjack, 55 pelagic mid-water trawlers for coastal pelagics, 15 squid jiggers for oceanic squids and 10 trap/hook and liner for capturing deep-sea lobsters and other bottom fins fish.
In a report, the group has recommended developing world class harbor and storage facilities for the development of marine products business in the country.
The report said the country needed two major fishing harbors, 13 minor harbors and 46 fish landing centers by 2012. It further said modernization of existing harbors, cold storage facilities and factory vessels, improving fish handling and preservation facilities onboard of fishing vessels were the other major areas of development.
The group has also recommended setting up of joint ventures for production and marketing of value-added marine products.
A stakeholder consultation workshop that began on Thursday in Chennai will discuss issues related to various aspects of fishing business.