Mangaluru: Let Mangaluru become the ‘fish capital’ of India, said Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim inaugurating the three-day ‘National Matsya Mela-2016’ organised by College of Fisheries, Mangaluru and Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC), here at TMA Pai International Convention Centre on March 4.
Addressing the gathering, after launching the online portal set up by the KFDC- www.buyfish.in, where customers can buy fish online and the same will be delivered to their doorstep anywhere in Mangaluru, DC said that fish industry as such has huge potential to create employment and this must be explored.

Fish and its by-products along with value added products can create huge employment and these areas need to be tapped.

“There is a need to fix uniform price for different varieties of fish so that the market and the price is stabilised,” he said adding that currently 90 percent of exports to Lakshadweep are made through Mangaluru port and there is yet some need to work on this to further improvise on the statistics.

KFDC Chairman Hiriyanna raised concern over raising demand and price of fish and proportionate decline in catch.

“We have taken many initiatives to promote fish products through the KFDC,” he said adding that the initiatives of the KFDC may, it be Fish Canteen in Cubbon Park  or the outlets have bagged huge response,” he said adding that the canteen has been earning a daily revenue of Rs one to two lac.

Talking about government support, he said that both state and central governments are promoting fisheries.

“The KFDC has built 20 fish markets of Rs 10 lakh each,” he said.

Mangaluru city corporation commissioner, Dr Gopal Krishna, Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred, KFDC MD V K Shetty among others were present.