EU team to visit Paradip fishing harbour next month

PARADIP:A delegation from the European Union (EU) is expected to visit Paradip next month to assess the conditions and infrastructure facilities available at the fishing harbour there for seafood export trade.

The State Government has taken control of the fishing harbour from the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and handed it over to the newly formed Paradip Fishing Harbour Management and Development Society (PFHMDS) to procure hygienic marine fish. Meanwhile, the Fisheries department has sought the advice of experts of the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF) to prepare a comprehensive master plan for its renovation and maintenance at an estimated cost of `4.92 crore.

Ahead of the EU team’s tour, Agriculture Production Commissioner Gagan Kumar Dhal, who is also in-charge of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) department, accompanied by higher officials, visited Paradip fishing harbour and interacted with different stakeholders and fishery officials.
 Later, Dhal visited the processing unit, auction hall and Mahanadi river mouth, which has been turned into a danger zone due to sand casting.

Sources said dredging work at Mahanadi river basin has not been carried out since 2000. As a result, underwater surface has turned hazardous for vessels. The basin’s depth has been reduced from 5 metres to 2 metres, which creates problems for hassle-free movement of vessels and crafts. Besides, fish auctioning in the harbour is being carried out without proper sanitation measures, while there is no other infrastructure and facilities to meet the standards prescribed by the EU for seafood import.

Meanwhile, the department has adopted different measures to expedite these activities ahead of the visit of the European Union team. Sources said the team will inspect the harbour, which has got Export Inspection Agency (EIA) certification, to boost marine product export to European countries. It would be the first visit of the EU team to Paradip fishing harbour.

Odisha Marine Fish Producers’ Association (OMFPA) president Srikant Parida said the proposal for setting up another fishing jetty in Paradip for accommodation of traditional boats on six acres of land is yet to be carried out due to delay in exchange of land between revenue department and PPT.