Chennai, Nov 16 (Representative) A conclave on Investment Opportunities in Fisheries and Aquaculture sectors was held at Andaman and Nicobar Island on Friday which was presided over by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh. A PIB release on Friday evening said around 60 Investors from various parts of the country specializing in technologies related to Tuna and Seaweed participated in the event. The event included one-on-one B2G (Business-to-Government) meetings on the sidelines, with participation from the Secretary (Fisheries) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, senior officers from the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, NFDB, and other institutions. The dignitaries delivered opening addresses, setting the stage for an interactive session where investors discussed their challenges and highlighted the support and interventions needed from the government to further drive growth and maximize the sector’s potential. The investors and company executives presented a diverse range of projects aimed at advancing the marine and aquaculture industries. These included initiatives in seaweed farming, deep-sea fishing, and cage culture, each designed to sustainably increase fish yield and ocean resources. They also discussed advancements in fish processing and omega-3 oil extraction, highlighting efforts to enhance value-added products from marine resources. Additionally, projects involving deep-sea seaweed farming and the production of biofuel from seaweed were proposed, focusing on renewable energy and sustainability. Innovative approaches to fish transportation by seaplanes were outlined to improve supply chain efficiency, along with ventures in ornamental fish farming to cater to the growing demand for exotic marine species.
Together, these projects illustrate a comprehensive vision for sustainable growth and technological innovation in the sector. Investors expressed concerns about high transportation and power costs, land allotment challenges, connectivity issues within the islands, and barriers to exporting from the region. They underscored the need for infrastructural and policy support to overcome these challenges and foster sector growth. Additionally, they highlighted a shortage of trained crew to operate Tuna vessels and emphasized the need for certification for near-coastal voyages. The lack of infrastructure for direct exports from the Andaman Islands was also identified as a critical area needing attention, it said. The investors also requested for establishment of a dedicated task force to expedite the fishery projects in the region, further operationalize a customs office for facilitating direct export of products from the Andaman Islands. Additionally, they sought administrative support for a transport subsidy, relaxation of regulations to allow skilled foreign crew on tuna fishing vessels, and training opportunities for local fishermen in countries like Thailand, with assistance from relevant central ministries and agencies. Concerns were also raised about the loss of natural and fishery resources due to overfishing by foreign vessels, emphasizing the need for protective measures to safeguard local resources. In response to these queries, the Islands officials outlined plans for further rationalizing and simplifying regulations, and setting up dedicated fishery estates, developing single-window clearance systems for fishery investment proposals, and assessing suitable sites for pilot projects on anchovy processing and cage culture. A viability study for the fish processing cluster has already been completed, and the RFP is currently being prepared.
Additionally, specific areas have been identified for shrimp cultivation and cage culture. He also highlighted that a small ship repair facility will also be coming up soon in the region. The Union Minister emphasized the government’s aim to introduce significant initiatives for the sector, including the use of large fishing vessels in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He noted the high potential for fish processing with value addition and its role in enhancing exports, with a vision to make the Andaman Islands a major export hub for fisheries. The central ministry will gather feedback from investors and the UT government to incorporate into a policy that addresses these concerns. Additionally, the ministry is in the process of developing a comprehensive deep-sea fishing policy. Mr George Kurian, Minister of State, MoFAH and D and Ministry of Minority Affairs, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State, MoFAHD and Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Admiral D K Joshi, Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Secretary (Fisheries), Department of Fisheries(DoF), MoFAH&D, Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and other dignitaries took part in the event.