At a Central Fisheries Department event held in Agatti, Lakshadweep, C.P. Radhakrishnan stressed the need to conserve marine resources for future generations and to prevent illegal and unregulated fishing.
He said India is currently the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing about 8% globally, and that the fisheries sector supports the livelihoods of around 3 crore fishers and fish farmers.
According to him, Indian seafood is exported to more than 120 countries, and marine product exports crossed Rs 73,000 crore in the last financial year.
Radhakrishnan also urged youth to view fishing not merely as a traditional occupation but as a modern sector with scope for technology, science and global market opportunities.
He noted that about one-sixth of India’s exclusive fisheries economic zone is linked to Lakshadweep, with the region capable of yielding over one lakh tonnes of fish annually, including around 94,000 tonnes of tuna and other high-value varieties sought in international markets such as Japan.
