Fishing
in the Andamans contd
Deep-sea
fishing projects are capital intensive. Private sector investment
will have to be attracted through the creation of a proper investment
climate involving soft loan, foreign equity participation, permission
to directly export from Port Blair or Campbell Bay and creation
of necessary infrastructure in terms of harbour facilities, processing
and cold chains and others. The Department of Fisheries is in favour
of foreign collaboration, involving foreign equity participation,
in joint venture companies involving any Indian private sector company
like Aniidco and also other reputed foreign fishing companies.
This may also involve participation of the Marine Products Export
Development Authority (MPEDA). The Government of India may make
soft loans available.
As
the growth of marine fisheries is dependant upon precise integration
of harvesting, processing and marketing operations, it is necessary
that the requisite infrastructure is planned well and is provided
for. If the Marine fisheries sector has not developed so far in
the islands, despite the obvious potential it possesses, it is because
the necessary infrastructure is lacking, like,
1.
Shore-based facilities for landing, berthing, bunkering and supplies
2. Processing and cold storage
3. Marketing facilities involving cold chain for inland transportation
as well as shipment to mainland and provisions for exports directly
from the islands.
Landing
and Berthing facilities
There
are all together 54 landing centres in the island group. Two fishing
harbours, one at Campbell Bay and the other at Phoenix Bay. The
one at Phoenix Bay has since been constructed but is presently used
for inter island transport vessels instead of its designated purpose.
The reason is stated to be lack of fishing vessels operating from
this base. This is a matter of concern since the infrastructure
creation has not gone hand in hand with the solution to marketing
problems.
Processing
Limited
facilities exist at present in the Islands. Adequate number of
ice plants, cold storages and freezers (blast & plate) at strategic
centres are needed for successful export oriented marketing programmes.
Fish drying could be an effective processing mechanism for remote
areas lacking infrastructure facilities for freezing, storage and
marketing. About 30 per cent of fish is converted to dried fish
by sun drying on the open beach with or without salt. The quality
of dried fish leaves much to be desired as it has a very short shelf
life. The major defects being high sand content, low salt levels,
reddening by red halophiles through impure salt, high moisture content
and insect infestation during storage.
The
facilities being considered by the Department are:
1. Drying platforms at ten selective landing centres;
2. Solar dryers and drying tents at 30 landing centres;
3. Tunnel dryer at Port Blair.
The
facilities to be developed for the production of quality-dried fish
include:
a.
Making available sufficient quantity of pure salt for curing;
b.
Proper curing yards with curing tanks, running water and drying
platform
c.
Proper material for bulk packaging of dried
fish and
d.
Rodent proof storage for dried fish.
Marketing
Large
scale fish landing requires disposal of the excess catch which is
difficult. It is also not possible to transport fish to the mainland
as it involves three to four days journey by ship. Frequency of
ships sailing to the mainland is less, only two to three per month.
The fishermen, therefore, are not venturing into commercial fishing
and currently do fishing only for their livelihood. Marketing facilities
play a key role in realising better price for the fish and fish
distribution.
To ensure better price, the fish landing centres should be provided
with minimum facilities essential for auction, marketing, linkage
of cold chain for transport and direct export facilities. The facilities
would also include model fish markets based on the specifications
laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards.The varieties of fishes
having potential for export processing are of two categories:
1.
High value fishes which would include varieties of fishes that can
be commercially processed for export. They are Red Snapper, White
Snapper, Grouper, Emperor, Sharks, Tuna, Shrimp, Lobsters, Crab,
Squids and Cuttle fish.
2. Low
value fishes, that can be processed for export mainly in the form
of dried fish/fish meal are, Sardine, Mackerel, Anchovies, Caranx,
Silver Bellies and Ribbon fishes.
The
viability of export to the overseas and the domestic market may
have to be considered in the light of transport cost to mainland
by ship, which is Rs 7 per kg, and the cost by air being Rs 21 per
kg. The South East Asian market being close to the Andamans, direct
export is a better proposition.
Mariculture
Much
progress has been made globally in mariculture and methods have
been developed to culture a number of species of fishes, Prawns,
Lobsters, Molluscs and Seaweeds. The mariculture operations have
led to
1.
Culturing and fattening finfish or shell fishes in confinements
within enclosures,
2.
Rearing of shell fishes using racks, trays and ropes in bays and
3.
Sea ranching involving stocking of open waters with artificially
produced seeds to enhance natural stock. The Mariculture Production
of India in relation to the global mariculture productivity would
suggest that India could augment its marine exports by at least
20,000 MT by undertaking mariculture in the Andamans
|
Table
5. Mariculture Productivity of Leading Countries
|
| Sl. |
Country |
Coastline
(km) |
Production
(tonnes) |
Productivity
(tonne per km) |
| 1 |
Norway |
19,500 |
412,000 |
21.13 |
| 2 |
UK |
10,500 |
60,000 |
5.71
|
| 3 |
Japan |
29,751 |
1,277,000 |
42.92 |
| 4 |
Chile |
5,300 |
260,230 |
49.10 |
| 5 |
Philippines |
17,460 |
657,852 |
37.68 |
| 6 |
India
|
6,129 |
*82,634 |
13.48 |
| 7 |
A&N |
1,912 |
#20,000 |
10.50 |
*
Production based on coastal aquaculture and not mariculture
# Projected production |
These
marine sites can be judiciously used for culture of marine organisms
of seafood export importance. This is an activity, which has significantly
contributed towards enhancement of marine fisheries production globally.
However, in India, no systematic efforts have been made to harness
its potentials. The Department has broadly identified the coastal
areas suitable for mariculture activities based on preliminary observations,
although carrying capacity assessment remains to be done. Each 25m2
cage unit can yield 500-600 kg of cultivated fish in 7-8 months
period.
contd
