Feasibility study on Bay of Bengal fishing resource to be conducted

24/1/96

A Western Australian marine company has entered into an agreement with an Indian corporation to evaluate the management of a promising fishing resource off the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan, who is presently leading a special WA trade delegation to India, in a joint statement today with Michael Kailis, Chairman of Kalis MG Exports, said a feasibility study would be conducted to determine the potential of the fishery to meet world best practice.

Mr Cowan and Mr Kailis said one trawler would be used to assess crew size and marine equipment needed in the depths to be fished to determine the likely sustainable level of catch from the waters near the islands.

"The potential to properly manage the seafood resource, prawns (tiger, king and banana), squid, lobster and tuna, had already been successfully demonstrated in WA and a similar model would be used in India," they said.

Mr Cowan said the WA Department of Fisheries had specialist expertise in the field of sustainable fishing and would be asked to assist the study.  Some of the other long term considerations included the possible commissioning of a factory ship to service the trawler fleet and the development of an onshore processing facility.

Mr Kailis, who is the Foundation Vice Chairman of the Australia-India Chamber of Commerce, said the area in the vicinity of the Andaman Islands indicated a great marine potential and a stand alone resource, which would not unduly affect fishing already being carried out along the Indian east coast.

"Future prospects for a joint venture to refurbish up to 25 vessels and properly manage the marine resource were extremely bright and I look forward to a positive feasibility result," Mr Kailis said.

The Commerce and Trade Minister said today's announcement was timely and coincided with the opening yesterday of a new WA Trade Office in Bombay (Mumbai).

Mr Cowan said he was extremely confident trade ties between WA and India would strengthen through the Trade Office and greatly assist in facilitating the proposed joint marine venture to the next stage.

Media contact: Ian Hasleby   222 9595

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