The Department of Fisheries (DoF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), has taken significant steps to enhance tuna fish exports by notifying a Tuna Cluster in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on October 29, 2024.
To attract investments in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the DoF, in collaboration with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, hosted an Investors’ Meet on November 14, 2024, at Swaraj Dweep. The event highlighted the untapped potential of the islands in the seafood export market. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has developed an action plan to promote direct seafood exports from the islands. This includes addressing value chain gaps and opening an MPEDA Desk Office in the region to facilitate fisheries trade. Additionally, MPEDA has identified clusters of boats for providing onboard tuna handling training to local fishers.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are known for their rich tuna biodiversity, comprising oceanic species like Yellowfin tuna, Skipjack tuna, and Bigeye tuna. The region has an estimated potential yield of 64,500 metric tonnes of tuna, far exceeding current harvest levels, thereby offering substantial opportunities for growth in the fisheries sector.
Under PMMSY, the DoF has approved proposals by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration with a total investment of INR 58.91 crore, including a central share of INR 31.48 crore. Key infrastructure developments planned under the scheme include:
These initiatives aim to bolster tuna fisheries infrastructure, enhance export capacity, and tap into the full potential of tuna resources in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This announcement was shared by the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2024.