Odisha’s largest sea-fishing harbour in Paradip is ready for European Union (EU) sanitation test with refurbished infrastructure. The fishing harbour has been revamped to meet with the European Union’s hygiene and sanitation specifications on export of marine produces. The EU panel would visit the harbour on November 21to make an on-the-spot assessment. We are hopeful that the global body would accord seal of approval to Paradip as an international standard harbour, said Manager Paradip Fishing Harbour, Bharat Bhusan Sahoo. The harbour continues to maintain the hygiene standard specified by European Union (EU) as EU member-countries are major exporters of sea-fish from Paradip. Earlier the harbour has been acknowledged as a clean and pollution-free zone by the Expert Inspection Agency (EIA), a wing of union agriculture ministry.The harbour has been revamped with modern infrastructure facilities from Rs 5.69 crore national fisheries development board (NFDB) grants. The fish auction hall which was earlier the principal source of pollution has been upgraded with excellent sewerage and drainage network.The auction hall is the most vital component of the harbour as trading of fish produce takes place at the hall. It was in poor shape in the past. After the renovation measures, it has got a facelift. Emphasis was laid on modernizing the sewerage and drainage system. The storage facilities for the fish produce were also enhanced. An advanced effluent treatment plant to maintain sanitation and cleanliness in and around the harbour has been installed. We have prioritized the work to revamp the harbour to meet with the European Union’s hygiene and sanitation specifications on export of marine produces. The Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF) which carries out the development of fishery harbours and brackish water shrimp farms across the country provides us technical expertise of the infrastructure development project, the official said. The fishing harbour commissioned in 1998 has earned the distinction of being state’s largest exporter of marine produces mainly sea fish. An estimated 3,500 metric tonnes of high-grade shrimps are exported mainly to European countries every year from this fishing hub. The annual shrimp export turnover from the harbour is to the tune of Rs 150 crore. That incidentally accounts for over 40% total annual shrimp export from the state. It may be recalled here that the harbour earlier remained under the dual administrative control of Paradip port Trust and state marine fisheries department. On 27 September 2011, PPT had stayed away from harbour management.
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