MUMBAI:
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has assured that the fisheries sector in Konkan region would be developed and strengthened under his ministry.
The minister made the assurance after inaugurating ‘AQUA BAY’ pavilion, set up by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), the research arm of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), at the ongoing sixth edition of Global Kokan Festival 2018 in Mumbai. The minister made the inauguration on Sunday in the presence of Dr. A. Jayathilak, Chairman, MPEDA and Spices Board, and B. Sreekumar, Secretary, MPEDA.
A major objective of the January 6-10 Kokan festival, organised by Kokan Bhoomi Prastishthan at Vasi in Navi Mumbai, is to develop the Kokan region by promoting aquaculture, fisheries, agriculture and tourism.
Dr. Jayathilak explained that the Konkan region, having 13,500 hectares of brackish water potential area for shrimp aquaculture and mangrove vegetation, especially in Sindhudurg region, has the potential to support 1,000 MT of mangrove crab production. Likewise, Ratnagiri district has tremendous scope for cage culture of marine fin fishes and it can produce 5,000 MT of high value fishes like seabass, cobia and pompano.
The MPEDA chairman also explained that ornamental fish sector and GIFT tilapia culture can be boosted in the region in freshwater sector also. The minister appreciated the efforts of MPEDA, especially its role in fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India’ by developing and propagating indigenous technologies for export-oriented aquaculture in India.
MPEDA, MPEDA-RGCA and Spices Board of the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry have put up a pavilion and stalls to display the live aquatic animals and various value added seafood products, especially grown in the Konkan region.
