Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 27: The Union Department of Fisheries has given the green light to the Andaman & Nicobar Administration’s proposal to develop a smart and integrated fishing harbour at Mayabunder with a total investment of Rs 199.24 crore, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The harbour, to be built under the Blue Port Initiative and fully funded through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), will feature modern, IoT-enabled facilities for safe landing and berthing of fishing vessels. The project integrates sustainable fisheries management, enhanced fish-handling capacity, operational safety, energy-efficient systems, and digital traceability.
The Mayabunder harbour will accommodate 430 fishing vessels and support an annual fish landing of 9,900 tonnes, while creating employment opportunities across the fisheries value chain and boosting incomes for stakeholders. Environmentally friendly practices will also help combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aligning with India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with 6 lakh sq. km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and an estimated 60,000 MT of tuna and tuna-like species, including 24,000 MT of Yellowfin and 2,000 MT of Skipjack tuna, stand to benefit significantly from enhanced infrastructure.
To promote investment and value chain development, the Department of Fisheries hosted an Investors Meet on November 14, 2024, at Swaraj Dweep, highlighting opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture in the Islands. A tuna cluster has also been notified under PMMSY to support infrastructure, skill development, and global competitiveness.
India’s fisheries sector has witnessed strong growth over the past decade, with fish production rising from 96 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to nearly 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, while seafood exports have doubled in value to Rs 62,408 crore, reaching over 130 countries with more than 350 product varieties.
The approval of the Mayabunder Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour is seen as a strategic move to unlock the islands’ fisheries potential and advance India’s goal of achieving one lakh crore in seafood exports by 2030–31, the statement noted.