FSI locates export quality fish grounds in Andaman waters

Port Blair, Jul 07 (UNI) Abundance of difference varieties of fish, many of them having good potential for the export market, was found in separate grounds located in the Andaman Sea during a 20-day survey conducted recently by the Fisheries Survey of India (FSI).

''The FSI vessel MFV Blue Marlin used bottom set vertical longline along the coasts in these sites during the survey for the purpose,'' a report released by the FSI here yesterday said.

According to the report, the varieties of fish such as Mrigal, Katla, Kokari, which are commercially important and have both local and export market, were caught during the operation in the grounds very close to the shore, where fishermen could easily operate even with handline or modified bottom set line to get these kinds of high quality perches.

As per the FSI report, during the survey in the eastern part of Andaman waters, rich perch grounds were located.

The area off Diglipur, 28 kms away, yielded good catch rate of Snappers, Groupers and Carangids known as Katla and Mirgal, Gobra and Kokari respectively.

''In this area, in a single set of 300 hooks, 31 numbers of fish consisting of Katla and Mirgal, 11 Kokari and 4 Gobra were caught.

The weight range of the fish caught was of 3-6 kg each,'' the FSI report added.

These are commercially important varieties having much demand in local market as well as in the export market.

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