The State Fisheries Department in West Bengal has established a fish-testing laboratory in Junput, East Midnapore, aimed at assisting exporters in evaluating the pollution levels in fish, particularly prawns.
The facility is designed to enable exporters to pre-emptively assess the quality of their consignments, mitigating the risk of rejections from foreign countries on pollution grounds. State Fisheries Minister Biplab Roy Chowdhury expressed optimism that this initiative would significantly enhance fish exports from the region.
Acknowledging instances of exported prawn consignments facing rejections due to pollution concerns, the minister highlighted the need for a modern testing facility. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for comprehensive fish testing and is set to become operational soon.
Chowdhury emphasized that the unscientific practices in fish cultivation by certain farmers prompted the department to conduct meetings at both the state and district levels. These meetings aimed to encourage fish farmers to adopt scientific methods in pisciculture, promoting sustainable and high-quality fish production.
According to data from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for the fiscal year 2021-22, West Bengal exported 105,080 tonnes of frozen shrimp, generating revenue of Rs 5,827.61 crore. The total marine product exports from the state during the same period amounted to 124,337 tonnes, with a total revenue of Rs 6,183.09 crore.
The bulk of frozen fish exports, primarily comprising shrimp, is transported in reefer containers via sea routes to various global destinations, including Japan, the USA, the European Union, China, South East Asia, the Middle East, and other countries. Reportedly, 85% of shrimps from Bengal are exported, with only 15% reserved for domestic consumption.
Shyamsundar Das, the General Secretary of the Digha Fisherman and Fish Traders Association, noted challenges in the export market, citing reduced interest from several countries in procuring fish. Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department has initiated the installation of modern technological devices in trawlers for deep-sea fishing, facilitating centralized tracking of their locations by department officials.
