Marine exports double this year in Karnataka

[email protected] (Naina J A, Deccan Herald )

August 24, 2011

Mangalore, August 24: At a time when marine products exports and earnings in India has crossed $ 2.8 billion during 2010-11, the Marine exports including fishmeal and fish oil exports from Karnataka during 2010-11 have doubled compared to last year, with total exports estimated at Rs 681 crore in 2010-11 as against Rs 392 crore in 2009-10.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry Assistant Director Rajakumar Naik said in 2010-11, the state had exported one lakh metric tonne of fish meals, fish oil and frozen fish, thus earning an income of Rs 681 crore. The export products include 52 per cent of fish meal, 13 per cent of fish oil and 35 per cent of frozen fish. The State's exports of fishmeal had doubled as it exported fishmeal estimated at Rs 442 crore in 2010-11 as against Rs 225 crore in 2009-10. Fishmeal and fish oil account for 65 per cent of the exports from the State.

In 2009-10, 57,359 tonne marine products were exported and the earnings was Rs 392 crore. Few export earnings included dried fish meal—23,120 tonne and the earning was Rs 11,295 lakh, Frozen Mackeral—7520 tonne and the earnings was Rs 5317 lakh, Frozen cuttle fish—2832 tonne and the earnings was Rs 3411 lakh, Ribbon fish—3,611 and the earnings was 2,484 lakh. In 2008-09, about 33,210 tonne marine products were exported from the state with earnings of Rs 23,890 lakh while in 2007-08, 26,138 tonne marine products were exported and the income fetched was Rs 16,286.

Naik said in 2010-11, Rani fish or “madmal” (in Tulu) landings too were good. It is used to manufacture “surimi” or fish paste especially in Japan, where it was used to make imitation of shrimps, lobsters, and crab claws. Mackerel, earlier was not being exported.

However, now there is a good demand from Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan. In fact, ornamental fish worth Rs 75 lakh to Rs one crore is exported from the state.

There were 26 fishmeal and fish oil units in Karnataka, of which 13 are registered with MPEDA. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts had 14 frozen marine food exporting units of which nine were in Mangalore, one in Thadadi (in Kumta), one in Udupi and one is coming up at Kota in Udupi district. Of which, seven frozen marine exporting units cater to European standards and are situated at Baikampady, Ullal, Kota, Kundapur, Malpe and Tadadi. Of Karnataka's coastline, the major frozen marine food industries are situated in Dakshina Kannda and Udupi districts. Seventy five per cent of the fish landings were in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, namely in Mangalore, Malpe, Gangolli, Naik added.

By 2015, the target is to export marine products worth $ 4 billion. The target for Karnataka for 2011-12 is to export Rs 1.20 lakh metric tonne marine products and earn Rs 900 crore, he said. “There is high demand for chilled fish and ornamental fish from Karnataka. If air cargo complex comes up at Mangalore airport, then export of marine products will get further boost,” he added.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

Comments