Tuna exports touches 635 MT during last fiscal

New Delhi, Nov 4: Exports of high value fresh tuna fish totaled 635 million tonnes (MT) during the last fiscal year at a value of 3.03 million dollars.

The resource potential of oceanic tuna in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is about 2,13,000 MT but has remained untapped in the absence of industrial long lining, Seafood Exporters Association of India said.

''Conversion of vessels, onboard handling, onshore facilities and proper training to the fishing crew are all vital areas in tuna fishing and exports,'' Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) G Mohan Kumar has said.

It is not impossible to achieve the target of 500 million dollars of export earnings we have set, Mr Kumar added.

MPEDA had formulated a scheme for setting up tuna handling centres with a sizable subsidy component and is awaiting the nod of the ministry.

UNI