Source: The Hindu

India’s Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas was spoke after commissioning the Rs. 3-crore chilled tuna processing plant built by the National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT).

He hoped the plant would give a boost to the export of value-added tuna. Such plants would be set up in Vizag and other important fishing centers.

Other speakers pointed out that the plant would facilitate export of ‘Sashimi’ grade tuna which commanded a high price on the international market, especially in Japan ‘Sashimi’ is a favorite fish dish in Japan; uncooked tender slices of premium quality tuna are served raw as the first course at formal dinners). Anwar Hashim, president, Seafood’s Association of India, said Sashimi-grade tuna fetches between $15 and $35 a kg while the ordinary tuna gets only a fraction of that price.

Tarun Sridhar, Joint Secretary (Fisheries), in the Union Ministry of Agriculture, said tuna was underexploited in the Indian waters and that hardly a third of the tuna potential was being tapped.