- The Centre aims to position the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a key tuna export hub, leveraging its untapped fishery resources.
- There is rising global demand for tuna, which saw a 31.83% export growth from India in 2023-24.
- The Indian Ocean contributes 21% to the global tuna production.
- The Exclusive Economic Zone around the islands is home to diverse tuna species like Yellowfin tuna, Bigeye tuna and Neritic tuna.
- The islands primarily harvest neritic tuna, with small quantities of oceanic species like skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin tuna.
- Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna is not only one of the world’s most profitable fisheries; it is also one of the most threatened. The stock could collapse as soon as 2026, according to an assessment the IOTC commissioned.
| Indian Ocean Tuna Commission -IOTC The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. It works to achieve this by promoting cooperation among its Contracting Parties (Members) and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties in order to ensure the conservation and appropriate utilisation of fish stocks and encouraging the sustainable development of fisheries. It has 31 members: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Comoros, Eritrea, European Union (Member Organization), France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, and Yemen. |
Dig Deeper: Read the rights allotted under the Exclusive Economic Zone by UNCLOS and the contest of South China Sea islands by different stakeholders.
