TUNA
EXPORT HUB : ECONOMY
NEWS:
Centre aims to make Andaman & Nicobar Islands a tuna export hub
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
Tuna are pelagic, warm-blooded fish critical for
global seafood markets, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands offering an annual
yield potential of 64,500 tonnes. India aims to boost tuna exports, leveraging
its rich resources and rising demand, especially in Japan.
Tuna
Fish
- Habitat: Pelagic fish found in
tropical, subtropical, and temperate ocean regions; inhabit open waters
and rarely approach the shore.
Characteristics:
·
Warm-blooded,
maintaining body temperatures up to 12°C above surrounding water.
·
High-speed
swimmers, capable of reaching up to 75 km/h.
·
Migrate
extensively across oceans.
- Key Species: Albacore,
Skipjack, Yellowfin, and Bluefin (three types).
India's
Tuna Export Potential
- Global Market: Tuna has a
global market value of $41.94 billion.
- Indian Ocean: Contributes
21% of the world’s tuna supply, making it the second-largest producing
region globally.
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands:
- Annual tuna
yield potential: 64,500 tonnes (Yellowfin: 24,000 tonnes, Skipjack: 22,000
tonnes, Bigeye: 500 tonnes, Neritic: 18,000 tonnes).
- Rich
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) supports significant untapped opportunities.
- Mainly
produces neritic tuna, with limited harvesting of high-value oceanic
species like Skipjack and Yellowfin.
Export Statistics
(2023-24):
- Exported
51,626 tonnes of tuna valued at $87.96 million.
- India ranks
among the top 15 global tuna producers.
Global Dynamics:
·
Largest
producer: Indonesia.
·
Largest
consumer: Japan (Bluefin tuna is highly prized for sushi and sashimi).
Andaman
and Nicobar Islands
Geographical
Features:
- Located in
the Indian Ocean, separating the Andaman Sea from the Indian Ocean.
- Comprises two
island groups: Andaman Islands (north of 10° N) and Nicobar Islands (south
of 10° N).
- The Ten
Degree Channel (150 km wide) separates the two groups.
- Capital: Port
Blair.
Demographics:
- Total: 836
islands, 38 permanently inhabited.
- Nicobar
group: 22 main islands, with 10 inhabited.
Key
Initiatives
Government Efforts:
- Aim to make
Andaman and Nicobar Islands a central hub for tuna exports.
- Recent
initiatives include investor meetings to boost tuna fisheries.