In a major initiative aimed at strengthening the cooperative fisheries sector in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), Kochi, under the Government of India, organized a training and exposure programme on Deep Sea Tuna Fishing Vessels.
The programme was conducted with the support of the Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration, and funded by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad.
The programme witnessed the participation of key cooperative leaders including S. U. Maheswar Rao, Chairman of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Cooperative Federation (ANIFCOFED), and P. Nageshwara Rao, Vice Chairman of ANIFCOFED. Dilip Roy, Chairman of the North & Middle Andaman District Fisheries Federation, along with representatives from cooperative societies and the Mechanised Fishing Boat Owners Association, also attended.
The initiative is expected to enhance technical skills, promote sustainable tuna fishing practices, and create better livelihood opportunities for fishermen associated with cooperative societies across the islands.