A delegation from the EU is expected to visit the southern Indian port city of Tuticorin, in September to assess the conditions and infrastructure facilities available at the fishing harbour for seafood export trade, according to K. Rajendramany, assistant director of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), sub-regional office.

Tuticorin has earned a name in the business of seafood exports. The value in 2009-10 touched INR9,921 crore (US$2.13 billion) through shipment of 663,603 tonnes, he said.

To make the seafood export attractive, MPEDA has been offering sea freight assistance for export-import trade, in addition to offering financial assistance to fishermen to enhance the quality and value-addition under many subsidy schemes.

For promotion of ornamental fish breeding units, MPEDA has been providing assistance up to 50% of the infrastructure cost. Awareness camps for fishermen are also being conducted on methods to be adopted on post-harvest and pre-harvest management.

A total of 22 fish processing plants, nine ice plants and two fishmeal oil plants are registered with MPEDA.

Five chilled fish exporters, 10 dry fish exporters and three live fish exporters are operating from the region covering Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thanjavur districts, he added.