Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Dec 20: Air shipment of fish for export is going to begin soon after a lull of five years. Earlier, fish used to get exported through Air India flights. However, the same was stopped due to economic crisis, rate drop in international market and leakage of fish water due to improper packaging.

Fisheries minister S Angara said that talks are held with Air India and two other airlines that operate flights from Mangaluru international airport and the process of clearing technical issues will be completed soon.

Speaking to media, Harish Kumar, joint director of fisheries department of Dakshina Kannada, said, “Airlines are refusing to carry frozen fish from Mangaluru International Airport. That is why the fish that arrives at Malpe and Mangaluru fish ports is transported to Goa, Bengaluru, Calicut or Thiruvananthapuram through trucks and exported from there. However, this business incurs high cost and takes a lot of time. Minister Angara has spoken with the airlines that operate flights from Mangaluru international airport. There is a possibility that the service will begin again with conditions.”

Officials say that the packaging quality of fish should be of international standard. From Dakshina Kannada and Udupi 70000 metric tonnes of fish is exported via ship annually.