GOA, INDIA - Marine exports in India are growing exponentially. With sea food exports touching an all time high of 5.78 billion USD in 2016-2017 and the blue revolution project, the opportunities are endless. These growth potentials were recently deliberated at a seminar on Export Potential of Marine Products organised by World Trade Centre, Goa for the benefit of the Goa entrepreneurs.

The event coincided with Engineers Day, the Birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, the founder of WTC Mumbai. He initiated the entry of WTC in India, enabling the international business to prosper through 324 WTCs in over 85 countries..

Mr A.O. Kuruvila, Advisor WTC, Mumbai, whose interest in the fishing industry goes back many years, provided an overview of the current sector scenario. Eye opening facts mentioned were that ‘106 countries have tasted Indian sea food with USA, EU, Japan and China’ amongst the major consumers. In the South East Asian region, Vietnam was identified as the largest importer of marine products followed by Thailand.

Amongst the major stakeholders speaking at the event, Dr Sharmila Monteiro, Director/Ex. Officio Jt Secretary Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries, and Guest Speaker informed the audience that India was moving towards a blue revolution. The Department, she stated is promoting ‘resource specific fishing like tuna’ and have identified ‘open sea cage culture’ as an ideal avenue in aquaculture. She urged the community to take optimum benefit of the schemes available. For instance, financial assistance is available for cold storages, ice plants and a beneficiary can get up to 50 Lakhs of an ice plant of 40 tonnes.

There are more than 10 EU certified plants in Goa she said and advised the entrepreneurs to heed to the opportunity as States like Haryana and Punjab were already ahead in aquaculture farming. The Central Government has envisioned target of an estimated 5 million tonne increase in fish production by 2020.

The importance of meeting the demands of international exports with the approved certifications was elaborated by Dipty Shiriskar Asstt Director, Export Inspection Council of India, Goa Branch. She went into the nitty-gritty of what one must keep in mind from catch to sale in terms of setting up the right infrastructure.

K M Harilal, Dy Director General of Foreign, Goa, highlighted the various changes in consumption patterns from calorie content to protein rich diets, which served a great opportunity for the marine industry. He stressed on the need for corporatisation of the sector as most of it were owned by traditional fishermen. He also spoke of the specific schemes available for the marine sector like the MEIS and MEA.

Offering an on ground realistic picture of the aquaculture scenario in Goa, Mr. Cedric Gomes, CEO, Brackish Water Fish Farmers Development Agency, spoke of the many issues that plagued the farmers. Availability of land, diseased seed imported and demarcation of the high tide line were some problems areas he identified.

He offered an insight into the current trends in this field like Bio floc technology, Aquaponics and Recirculatory aquaculture. Of these, Aquaponics is easy, non-demanding on resources and set up for home production on a smaller scale.

The event was supported State Bank of India and Indo Tech Ice & Cold Storage. State Bank of India, highlighted the various financial schemes offered to exporters and Indo Tech Ice & Cold Storage gave an insight on the facilities they are offering for exports of Marine Products .

Earlier Mr Cyril Desouza, Asst. Director - Trade Promotion, World Trade Centre, Goa, welcomed the Delegates and later also proposed the vote of Thanks.

From (L-R): Dr.(Smt) Shamila Montiero, Director/Ex-Officio Jt. Secretary Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries, Govt. of Goa, Mr. A.O. Kuruvila, Advisor – Trade Promotion & Education, World Trade Centre, Mumbai, Mr. K.M. Harilal, Dy. Director General of Foreign Trade, Goa, Ms. Dipty A Shiriskar, Asst. Director, Exports Inspection Agency – Mumbai, Sub Office, Goa.