The project, backed by 100?ntral funding, is designed around the Blue Port Initiative and will combine modern berthing and landing facilities with IoT-enabled monitoring, digital traceability and energy-efficient systems. Officials said the harbour will accommodate 430 vessels and handle annual fish landings of nearly 9,900 tonnes, strengthening the islands’ capacity for higher-value tuna and deep-sea fisheries.

The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to crowd in private investment across processing, cold-chain logistics and export-oriented value addition, as India targets ₹1 lakh crore in seafood exports by FY31. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands hold an exclusive economic zone of around 600,000 sq. km and an estimated 60,000 tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species, positioning the territory as a potential hub for industrial-scale marine harvesting.

The department has already designated the islands as a tuna cluster and hosted investor outreach initiatives to attract technology providers and aquaculture operators. Market participants say the harbour’s integrated infrastructure could reduce post-harvest losses, improve compliance with sustainability norms and curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through enhanced tracking and monitoring.

PMMSY interventions in the islands have also expanded hatcheries, cage farming, cold storages, insulated transport and fish retail infrastructure, with cumulative investments exceeding ₹55 crore. Digital tools such as vessel communication devices and Sagar Mitras are being deployed to improve last-mile service delivery and traceability.

Officials said the Mayabunder facility will generate employment across harvesting, handling and logistics while raising fisher incomes and improving supply chain resilience. Analysts view the project as a template for integrated coastal infrastructure that aligns sustainability, export growth and community livelihoods, potentially unlocking further public-private partnerships in India’s fisheries sector.