The Tamil Nadu government would soon float tenders for setting up two fish processing parks in the state under public-private partnership mode, state's Fisheries Minister K A Jayapal said today.
"I am happy to inform this august forum that the tenders for Fish Processing Park at Nagapattinam and Cuddalore under public and private partnership mode will be published shortly," Jayapal said in his address at the inaugural of the 19th edition of India International Seafood Show here.
The Expo is organised by the Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Seafood Exporters Association of India. Union Commerce and Industries Minister Anand Sharma inagurated the event.
"Our Chief Minister (J Jayalalithaa) has announced the development of Fish Processing Parks in all the 13 Coastal Districts of the state in a phased manner to promote sea food industry in the state," he said, adding, in the first phase two parks had been proposed.
In the second phase, Jayapal said, fish processing parks would be established in Ramanathapuram and Ernavoor in Tiruvallur district.
He said to promote 'Tuna' fishery, the state government was "pondering" on developing an exclusive fishing harbour with state-of-the-art facilities to handle high value deep sea resources especially Tuna.
Tamil Nadu ranks high in export earnings on marine fishery products and in 2012-13 the total export earnings was Rs 3,332 crore, he said.
Noting that Tamil Nadu has 247 exporters with 42 seafood processing units, he urged the seafood export community to come forward and support in the process of "sustainable development" of fisheries sector in the State.
