"Investors and Exporters meet to be held at Lakshadweep in November with Special Focus on tuna, seaweed and ornamental fishes": Rajiv Ranjan Singh

Kochi (Kerala) [India], September 20 (ANI): A high-level consultation meeting on the development of the fisheries sector in Lakshadweep Islands, with a special focus on Tuna fisheries, Seaweed and Ornamental fisheries, was held on Saturday at Kochi.

According to a release from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the meeting was attended by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian, Union Minister of State and Praful Patel, Administrator of Lakshadweep.

Rajiv Ranjan Singh announced that an Investors and Exporters Meet will be organised in Lakshadweep in November 2025 to promote investment and exports in Tuna fisheries, Seaweed and Ornamental fisheries. He said, “If fish catch increases, the economy of Lakshadweep develops, and in turn, the economy of the country grows. This will help realise the Prime Minister’s dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

The Minister also highlighted Lakshadweep’s unique position as a strategic fisheries hub, commanding nearly 20% of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and offering access to vast deep-sea resources, especially high-value tuna.

He emphasised that Lakshadweep’s sustainable fishing practices, such as pole-and-line and handline tuna fishing, are globally recognised for their eco-friendly and bycatch-free approach. He further said that Lakshadweep’s strategic location offers significant potential for expanding deep-sea fishing activities.

The Minister emphasised the development of the tuna value chain, launching entrepreneurship programs in seaweed and ornamental fisheries, and empowering FFPOs.

He assured that certification and traceability will support sustainable, environmentally friendly tuna exports. He called for a joint working group between the Government of India and the Lakshadweep Administration to resolve pending proposals and technical needs, and urged every stakeholder to contribute to the creation of Atmanirbhar Bharat, with Lakshadweep poised to play a greater role in production and exports.

Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandary and Dairying George Kurian in his address highlighted Lakshadweep’s strategic role in India’s fisheries sector, echoing the Prime Minister’s vision of “Samudra Se Samriddhi” shared at Bhavnagar today.

The Minister reiterated the PM’s statement that the blue chakra in the national flag represents the blue revolution of India’s ocean economy. He emphasised that after the IT sector, the fisheries sector is the second fastest growing sector in India, and therefore deserves greater policy focus. He called for aligning the fisheries sector with the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, and Swadeshi to strengthen India’s self-reliance.

MoS Kurian appreciated the work of CMFRI and KVK Lakshadweep, especially in ornamental fisheries, and mentioned about it’s potential. He stressed the need for greater investment in modern infrastructure, cold chain systems, and value-added processing to empower local fishers.

Speaking on the occasion, Praful Patel, Administrator of Lakshadweep, said that Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory of India with limited connectivity to the mainland and has historically faced developmental challenges.

He noted that even after 75 years of independence, safe drinking water remained a major issue, but thanks to the Prime Minister’s initiative, desalination plants have now been set up in all islands. He highlighted that all classrooms in Lakshadweep are now smart classrooms, enabling children to compete globally, while hospitals and airports are also being developed.

The Administrator stressed the need for training and awareness on vessel technology and fish processing, along with a structured outreach plan for Departmental schemes to ensure wider stakeholder participation. He emphasized that cold storage facilities must be prioritized to enhance value addition and proposed organizing an Investors’ Meet for Lakshadweep to attract private sector investment in the fisheries sector.

In his address, Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, mentioned about the various support provided for Lakshadweep’s fisheries sector under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY) and emphasized the need to increase production for global competitiveness. He highlighted the need for offshore clusters for seaweed cultivation with private sector participation and shared that smart, integrated harbours are being developed to boost mechanised fish catch.

Rajthilak S, Secretary (Fisheries), UT of Lakshadweep Administration in his address shared updates on strengthening the tuna value chain, and the introduction of artificial reefs to boost livebait growth. He highlighted that INCOIS provides potential fishing zone data, which is regularly shared with local fishers, and efforts are being made to increase livebait availability. He added that Deep-sea fishing is expected to significantly increase productio,n and the introduction of Refrigerated fish water tanks shall reduce post-harvest losses by enabling histamine content evaluation.

The consultation brought together key stakeholders from the Lakshadweep Administration, Department of Fisheries, GoI, and representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Earth Sciences, MPEDA, ICAR, NITI Aayog, NCDC, and NABARD. (ANI)

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