Kochi, July 7 (IANS) Lakshadweep has drawn up an ambitious five-year roadmap to more than double its annual tuna and tuna-like fish production to 50,000 tonnes, with a comprehensive strategy focusing on deep-sea fishing, mariculture, seaweed farming, and modern fisheries infrastructure to transform the archipelago into a major hub of India’s blue economy.

The perspective plan, prepared by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) as the nodal agency, was finalised at a stakeholder consultation held in Kochi.

The roadmap seeks to generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for island fishing communities while ensuring the long-term conservation and scientific management of marine resources.

The strategy, to be implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), proposes interventions across marine fisheries, mariculture, post-harvest management, value addition, marketing, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship promotion and capacity building.

Among its major proposals is the induction of 50 new deep-sea fishing vessels below 24 metres to expand offshore tuna fishing.

It also envisages seaweed cultivation over five square kilometres, establishment of 10 medium-scale ornamental fish rearing units, promotion of recreational and sport fishing to complement the islands’ growing tourism sector, and support for a range of small-scale ventures benefiting local fishers, self-help groups and fisheries entrepreneurs.

Recognising Lakshadweep’s vast marine potential, the plan notes that the archipelago possesses around 4,200 sq. km of lagoon area, 20,000 sq. km of territorial waters, and more than 300 species of ornamental reef fish, offering significant opportunities for diversification into seaweed farming and ornamental fisheries.

The roadmap also calls for major investments in fisheries infrastructure, including new boat-building yards, cold storage facilities, 50 value addition units, two mother vessels, improved cold chain systems and marine mechanical workshops to modernise the fishing fleet and reduce post-harvest losses.

Institutional strengthening of fishermen’s cooperative societies, fish farmer producer organisations, women’s enterprises and community-based organisations also forms a key component of the plan.

Inaugurating the consultation, Lakshadweep Fisheries Secretary Raj Tilak said enhancing fish production would be the administration’s top priority over the next five years.

CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said the islands’ rich marine resources remain underutilised and assured that the institute would provide scientific and technical support for expanding mariculture, seaweed cultivation, ornamental fish breeding and other innovative fisheries-based livelihood initiatives.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Union Fisheries Department, Lakshadweep Fisheries Department, the National Fisheries Development Board, the MPEDA, the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology and other fisheries agencies, besides fishermen, entrepreneurs and leaders of cooperative societies from the islands.

–IANS

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