Andaman and Nicobar Islands: India’s Emerging Tuna Export Hub

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: India’s Emerging Tuna Export Hub

Sub :Geo 

Sec : Mapping 

Why in News

• The Union Government has recently emphasized its aim to make the Andaman and Nicobar Islands a central hub for tuna exports. This follows a 31.83% rise in India’s tuna exports in 2023-24. A key meeting with investors in the region signals this initiative.

About Tuna Fish:

• Tuna are pelagic fish, living in the upper layers of tropical, subtropical, and temperate oceans.
• Seven main species are commercially important, including Albacore, Skipjack, Yellowfin, and three species of Bluefin tuna.
• Found in tropical and temperate regions of all oceans, they inhabit open waters and rarely come close to shore.
• Unlike most fish, tuna is warm-blooded, maintaining body temperatures up to 12°C higher than the surrounding water.
• Tuna is known for their extensive migration patterns, covering vast distances across oceans.
• Tuna is among the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of speeds up to 75 km/h.

India’s Tuna Export Potential:

• The global tuna market is valued at $41.94 billion. The Indian Ocean ranks as the second-largest tuna-producing region globally, accounting for 21% of the world’s tuna supply.
• The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands hosts a variety of tuna species, offering untapped opportunities in the fisheries sector.
• Tuna Resources in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The Union Fisheries Department estimates the region’s annual tuna yield potential at 64,500 tonnes.
  • Yellowfin Tuna: 24,000 tonnes – consistently high global demand.
  • Skipjack Tuna: 22,000 tonnes – widely used in canned products.
  • Bigeye Tuna: 500 tonnes – sought for sashimi.
  • Neritic Tuna: 18,000 tonnes – commonly found closer to the coast.
• Export Statistics: In 2023-24, India exported 51,626 tonnes of tuna, valued at $87.96 million.
• Species Harvested: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands mainly produce neritic tuna. Limited quantities of other high-value oceanic species, including skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin, are also harvested.
• Global Tuna Production: The world’s largest producer of tuna is Indonesia, followed by countries like Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
• India’s Position: India ranks among the top 15 tuna-producing countries, contributing significantly to the Indian Ocean’s tuna supply.
• Largest Tuna Market: Japan is the largest global consumer and market for tuna, particularly for Bluefin tuna used in sushi and sashimi.

About Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

• It is located in the Indian Ocean, in the southern reaches of the Bay of Bengal, nearer to Indonesia and
• This comprises of two island groups – the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands – which separates the Andaman Sea to the east from the Indian Ocean.
• These two groups are separated by the 10° N parallel, the Andamans lying to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobar to the south.
• The capital of this territory is the Andamanese town of Port Blair.
• There are 836 Islands/Islets/Rocky Outcrops in the territory, of which only some 38 are permanently inhabited.
• The smaller Nicobar comprise some 22 main islands (10 inhabited).
• The Andamans and Nicobar are separated by a channel (the Ten Degree Channel) some 150 km wide.