India Ambitious Tuna Plans Not Materializingff

Source: Financial Express Bureau

Declining catch of tuna from the Indian coast has raised concerns on the ambitious plan of Marine Exports Product Development Authority (MPEDA) to double its export revenue.

Tuna capture has fallen by more than 25% in the last one year pushing most tuna long-liners into the red. MPEDA was hoping to increase tuna exports to $500 million by 2012 by converting 1,000 vessels into long-liners.

“Tuna capture and exports are disappointing after a good start. After reaching more than 60,000 ton, it has fallen to around 20,000 ton,” Anwar Hashim, national president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) said.

Expecting tuna catch to increase correspondingly with increase in tuna catching vessels, several processing companies have built huge capacities to produce sashimi grade tuna, which has great demand in Japan, and the developed world.

A report from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute said that total production of tunas and tuna-like fishes in 2009 was 135,262 ton as against 158,458 ton in 2008.

Tuna exports during the financial year 2009-10 stood at 21,936 ton in comparison to 31,094 ton in 2008-09.”Tuna is basically a migratory fish and it might be moving out in search of food. Almost all tuna exporting nations have reported a shortfall in its catch,” Hashim said, adding that the fish fetches good revenue in the global market due to its demand.

Declining marine resources and cheap competition for shrimp have forced MPEDA to look at tuna fishing in the Andaman Islands for future exports. Exploitation of tuna fisheries in Andaman Islands would be the cornerstone around which Indian seafood would maintain and increase its exports share.