Marine product exports up 12 per cent at $1.85 billion in 2006-07
01 Jun 2007
Mumbai:
Exports of marine products from the country rose 12
per cent to $1.85 billion in 2006-07 against $1.64 billion
in the previous year, union minister of state for commerce
Jairam Ramesh said.
He said China has emerged as a major destination for
Indian seafood during this ''turnaround'' in marine products
exports.
He said China''s imports from India accounted for 14
per cent of exports and EU accounted for 34 per cent,
while US and Japan''s shared 16 per cent each.
Frozen
shrimp accounted for 55 per cent of value of marine
product exports, he said, adding that to ensure pathogen-free
brood stock of shrimp, the Marine Products Export Development
Authority (MPEDA) has identified a bio secure zone in
the Andaman Islands where disease-free shrimp can be
cultivated.
By 2009, the stock would be available in the hatcheries
in the country, the minister said. The government has
earmarked Rs20 crore for the project, he added.
The
government also planned to start aquaculture projects
in three more states – Gujarat, Maharashtra and
Orissa – where prawns would be the focus of attention.
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have several acquaculture
projects at present.
Andaman
and Nicobar Islands account for about 60 per cent of
the country''s tuna production. The minister said he
would visit the islands on July 6 along with MPEDA officials
and hold a meeting at Port Blair to see how tuna exports
could be encouraged.
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