PUDUCHERRY, 16 February 2026: Leutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan has said Puducherry has the potential to emerge as a major marine export gateway for India and evolve into a model marine economy, provided value addition becomes central to the fisheries sector.
Inaugurating the two-day international workshop on “Marine Fisheries Value Chain in the Bay of Bengal Region: Puducherry as Destination,” he highlighted the Union Territory’s strategic strengths, including its coastline, port facilities, skilled workforce and harbour infrastructure. Referring to Karaikal as the only harbour-centric production-processing hub on India’s East Coast, he noted that Puducherry is well positioned to capitalise on port-led exports, especially as nearly 97% of India’s exports are routed through ports.
The workshop is jointly organised by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) and the Government of Puducherry, in association with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, National Fisheries Development Board, and Environmental Defense India Foundation.
Emphasising income enhancement for fishers, the Lieutenant Governor said increasing catch volumes alone would not raise incomes. “The value obtained from it must increase,” he stated, calling for investments in refrigeration facilities, ice plants, modern landing centres, certification systems and export infrastructure.
He noted that reforms under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and other fisheries initiatives are strengthening harbour development, safety systems, insurance, GPS facilities, deep-sea fishing and women’s self-help groups.
Highlighting the strong presence of women fish cooperatives, he described them as a national model and stressed the need for greater training, credit access and market linkages.
The workshop has brought together international experts, policymakers, researchers, cooperatives and exporters to develop a comprehensive strategy for upgrading the marine fisheries value chain in Puducherry.
