Tuna long-lining is all set to get a major boost in the country. The Marine Products Export Development Authority(MPEDA) has identified tuna fishing as a focus area. Long-lining involves the use of a long fishing line made of mono-filaments and with several hooks so that each catch can be quite substantial. The thin filament allows operators to use small vessels, thereby cutting down on operational costs. A pilot project being carried out by the Lakshadweep Development Corporation has achieved good results. The corporation had pressed into service one vessel for tuna long-lining in the Indian Ocean. It had tied up with Sanko Bussan Company of Japan for carrying out operations. A few foreign crew members were also assisting the corporation on the vessel. To promote the exploitation of tuna resources, MPEDA would provide a subsidy of 50% of the cost of modification of the vessel. It would also meet 75% of the crew costs and the vessels would be identified by the Association of Indian Fishery Industries. The new, modified vessels would facilitate an additional earning of nearly Rs 1.5 crore over and above the present income, making conversion a viable proposition. Technical viability had already been proved and testing was going on to establish the commercial viability. |
|