MARGAO
Ahead of the three-day India International Seafood Show beginning at the SAG grounds, Fatorda on January 27, Seafood exporters and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) have bated for safe and sustainable fishing, while saying that it is the responsibility of every government to enforce and implement the marine regulation and stop indiscriminate fishing, including bull trawling and fishing with LED lights.
Chairman of MPEDA, Dr A Jayathilak told the media here on Thursday that indiscriminate fishing should not be allowed by the respective state government, while stressing on the need to conserve fish resources. “The Seafood exports had in the past taken up with every state government to implement and enforce the rules regulating fishing. The state government should implement all rules determining the horse power of boats, the size of the fishing nets etc”, he said.
Saying that the seafood exporters and the government are speaking in one voice on the issue of conservation of marine resources, Dr Jayathilak said all the stake holdres should ensure sufficient catch in the future for domestic consumption and for exports.
Secretary General Seafood Export Association of India (SEAI) Elias Sait said that fishing rules does not permit fishing with LED lights and bull trawling, while asserting that the stated governments should implement the rules effectively. Sait, however, said the Goa government has been pro active on the issue of implementing the fishing guidelines and has been moving very fast on that count.
Meanwhile, Dr Jayathilak said that India’s best marine products will be showcased for buyers from around the world at the 21 st edition of India International Seafood Shows at the SAG grounds, Margao from January 27, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the presence of Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai and others.
Industry leaders and experts will deliberate on policies, market trends, technology and roadmaps to achieving an export target of US$10 billion by 2022.
He said “safe and sustainable seafood from India” is the focal theme of the three-day biennial exposition, being jointly organised by MPEDA, the nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and the Seafood Export Association of India. Dr Jayathilak said a key objective of the event is to highlight the country’s commitment towards sustainability in the entire value chain of seafood products such as primary production, processing and transportation.
On 28th January 2018, MPEDA will sign a MoU with Coop, Switzerland, a supermarket chain with over 2500 stores, on developing organic seafood supply systems in India to be marketed through their stores. Replying to a question, Jayathilak said that nearly 70 per cent of the exports comes from aqua culture, by the export of the Pacific white shrimp to the USA and EU countries.
