K'taka to modernise fishing harbours

In an effort to decongest the fish handling facilities in the state, Karnataka has proposed to modernise its fishing harbours on the west coast.

The department of fisheries is planning to undertake the third phase of development works at Malpe (about 60 km from Mangalore), Mangalore and Honnavar in addition to building a new fish landing centre at Alive Kodi near Bhatkal.

Though the cost of construction at Malpe and Mangalore is yet to be ascertained, the modernisation work is likely to involve a combined investment of over Rs 70 crore.

As the project comes under the Centrally-sponsored scheme, the department has approached the Ministry of Agriculture to study the feasibility and prepare an assessment report for funding these projects, a senior fisheries' department official said.

The proposed extension of these ports will ease congestion and help accommodate an additional 3,000 mechanised fishing boats.

At present, Malpe and Mangalore harbours can accommodate 3,200 boats. The department is also building a new fish-landing centre at Alive Kodi at a cost of Rs 2.24 crore.

According to HS Veerappa Gowda, director, fisheries department, the department plans to undertake the second phase of development of Honnavar port, for which the techno-economic feasibility study has been conducted. This port can accommodate 250 boats and post-development will be able to handle another 500 boats.

"In the next five years, we are planning to modernise all the fisheries harbours by building new ports as well as improving fish handling facilities at the existing ports at a cost of Rs 3 crore. We are also buying a dredger for all our harbours under assistance from ASIDE (Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities) scheme," Gowda told Business Standard.

Karnataka has 300 km of coastline with six fishing harbours at Mangalore, Malpe, Gangolli, Honnavar, Bhatkal and Karwar. The seventh harbour is under construction at Amdalli near Karwar.

This port is being built at a cost of Rs 13 crore by the Sea Bird naval project for the displaced families. For 2006-07, Karnataka's marine fish production stood at 1.73 lakh tonnes valued at around Rs 700 crore. It exported 26,723 tonnes valued at Rs 150 crore.