The per capita consumption of fish in I 5 kg against the world average of 12 kg (cf. 45 Japan and 20 kg in Myanmar). The per capita sumption is the highest (over 20 kg per annum) coastal areas of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Mah Gujarat, Daman and Diu.

About 90 per cent of fish production of the country is utilised in consumption leaving very small quantity for ex According to one estimate the fish-eating pop ‘ of the country will increase to 650 million by AD against the total population of 1.3 billion, an average per capita consumption of 11 kg there be need for 7.2 million tons of fish, of which least 4.3 million tones has to be realised from marine sector.

India is a regular exporter of fish and sheaf in the world. India exported 19,900 tons of fish and fish preparations valued at Rs. 5 crores in I960- 61 which rose to 69,400 tons valued at Rs. 211 crores in 1980-81 and 474,000 tons valued at Rs. 6,198 crores in 2004-05 (Table 12.XI). About 50per cent of the total export is in the form of frozen and canned shrimps. The other products exported com-

5. Refrigeration and cold storage facilities have been provided at Malwan, Ratnagiri, Mumbai, Pune, Akola, Chennai, Tutukandi, Cuddalore, Neelakrai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kollam and Thiru vananthapuram.

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6. Refrigeration facilities have been provided at three principal routes for the transportation of fish to the markets.

7. The coastal zone extending up to a width of 200 nautical miles from the sea coast has been de­clared as Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

8. The Indian Fisheries Survey Department, Mumbai is carrying out survey and exploration work for deep sea fishing for which the survey work up to 40 fathoms has been completed.

9. Insurance facilities have been extended to fishermen for the insurance and security of their life (10.65 lakh fishermen insured in 1995).

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10. There are presently over 900 hatcheries all over the country to provide fish seed. Efforts have also been made to improve the availability and quality of the fish-feed to the farmers.

11. Various programmes have been launched by the government for the development of inland fisheries. The Central Government with the co­operation of state governments has established 422 district-level Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDAs). In all, about 4.25 lakh hectares of water area has been brought under fish culture with 6.78 lakh fish farmers benefitted by the FFDA scheme.

12. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established 187 Agriculture Science Centers in different parts of the country with due emphasis of fishery development. Under the Jawahar Rojgar Yojna village pachayats have been author­ised to carry out fishery development programmes in respective villages.

13. Brackish Fish Farmers Development Agen­cies (BFDA) functioning in the coastal areas of the country, are providing a package of technical, finan­cial and extension support to shrimp farmers.

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14. Under the programme of Development of Model Fishermen Villages, basic civic amenities such as housing, drinking water and construction of community hall for fishermen villages are provided.

prised mainly lobsters, cuttlefish, squids, frog legs, dried prawns, shark fins and fish maws etc. Nearly 55 categories of marine products are exported to countries in South-East Asia, Europe and the United States. Japan continues to be the largest market in terms of value with a share of 49.5 per cent.

Exports to China have grown by 500 per cent between 1994- 95 and 1997-98. The three-month ban on Indian seafood exports during 1997-98 by the European Union was one of the reasons for the significant growth in the export to China. Besides Japan and China the United States, France, Australia, United Kingdom and Sri Lanka are other important import­ers of the Indian marine products.