Seafood exports from the State has increased by 17 per cent during 2016-17. The State had exported seafood worth `2,205 crore compared to `1,796 crore exports recorded in 2015-16. The total seafood export during 2015-16 was 35,630 tonne which increased to 41,828 tonne during 2016-17 thereby recording a growth of 17 pc. In terms of value, the export increased by 23 pc with a total turnover of around `2,205 crore, said Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Secretary Vishal Gagan after a meeting here. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi reviewed the performance of the Department at a high-level meeting here.Gagan said, total fish production in the State during 2016-17 also increased by 18 pc over previous financial year touching 6.14 lakh tonne. Out of this, inland fish production was around 3,93,730 tonne, brackish water production 67,359 tonne and marine fish production around 1,53,102 tonne. The area under aquaculture had also increased to 10,130 hectare in the last fiscal showing a growth of around 4 pc over previous financial year.The State Government has set an ambitious target to increase seafood export to `20,000 within next five years. With about 480 km coastline, Odisha is ranked sixth in the country in the total fish production. However, the State’s exports figure as a contribution to all-India exports is very dismal. Meanwhile, the State Government has already rolled out Odisha Fisheries Policy, 2015 and the brackish water land leasing policy is also in place for the fishing sector. The policy envisages increase in production, productivity and exports of fish stock. The Chief Secretary directed the Department for putting modern facilities at the landing harbours and make all the facilities functional, including auctioning and trading activities in developed harbours like Dhamara. The progress of the establishment of diary plant at Arilo under Baranga tehsil in Cuttack district was also reviewed at the meeting. As of now, 51 acres of land in the mauza has been allotted in favour of Omfed and possession has also been given. The project would be implemented with Nabard support. The project was put to open tender with a composite bid including civil, mechanisation and automation works. Since no bidder has come forward, it was decided to explore alternative possibilities for quick implementation of the project.