Now, quintessential Bengali fish to be made available in Dubai, Japan, China

Living in Dubai and missing Bengal's fish? Worry no more. The state is all set to export its fishes to various foreign lands including Dubai, Japan and China. State fisheries department has got an order of around Rs 900 crore to export the species to these countries.

This is for the first time that the fisheries department has taken up such a unique initiative that will not only create a market for Bengal's fishes in the foreign countries but also help to develop the financial condition of the state's fishermen.

Senior officials of the fisheries department believe that this will also contribute to the state's exchequer by earning foreign currencies.

The initiative was taken by the State Fisheries Development Corporation to increase the export of fishes and the recent orders from these foreign countries are providing a huge impetus.

To meet the ongoing demands of fishers in the international market, the department is setting up processing units with modern facilities at Nalban in Salt Lake and at Henry Island in South 24-Parganas at an approximate cost of Rs 3 crore. The fishes that would be exported to the foreign lands will be processed and packed in these units.

It was learnt that Japan wants to import red prawns from Bengal. A delegation from Japan during its recent visit to the city had tasted a red prawn cuisine and it appeared so delicious that they immediately placed an order to export red prawns from Bengal.

According to sources, the Japanese firm has placed an order of nearly Rs 500 crore. Apart from Japan, Dubai has also placed an order from the state.

The State Fisheries Development Corporation has increased the fish production in the state by a record margin. Pisciculture was being carried out in most of the stated-owned ponds and waterbodies. Once the export begins in full swing, the small-scale fishermen throughout the state will get a good price for their produces which will in turn help them develop their economic condition.

The department has also chalked out plans on how to engage more unemployed rural youth and women in pisciculture through the formation of various self-help groups in the villages.

The state fisheries department has already been distributing fingerlings to people at free of cost.

The department has a plan as to how to use various ponds, ditches and canals in the districts for the cultivation of fishes. Senior officials of the department have been visiting various places in the districts to examine the condition of waterbodies to ensure more participation.

The department is trying to engage more number of unemployed youth and women in pisciculture. In the rural parts of the South 24-Parganas and other districts, many people have ponds in their premises, many of which remain unutilised. The purpose is to use the ponds for fish farming.

The Fisheries department is providing technical assistance to the villagers in this regard.