New Delhi, Dec 14 — Lakshadweep’s first-ever investors’ meet has sparked strong interest from entrepreneurs, drawing investment proposals worth over ₹500 crore across sectors such as tuna and deep-sea fisheries, seaweed cultivation, ornamental fisheries, offshore cage farming, and waste management, an official statement said on Sunday.
Organised by the Department of Fisheries in Bangaram Island, the meet brought together 22 investors and key industry players from across India. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Minister of State George Kurian attended the event, which aimed to unlock the islands’ vast Blue Economy potential. To streamline investments, a single-window system for project approvals is being developed.
Officials highlighted Lakshadweep’s strong prospects in tuna and deep-sea fisheries, noting that the Union Territory covers nearly 20% of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone and hosts rich tuna stocks. Despite an estimated annual potential of one lakh tonnes, current production stands at about 15,000 tonnes. A modern value chain — including certification, branding, and export-oriented processing — could help create a premium global identity such as “Lakshadweep Sustainable Tuna.” Eco-friendly traditional fishing practices also support eligibility for global certifications like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), enhancing access to high-value markets.
Investment opportunities also lie in developing smart fishing harbours, cold chains, processing units, and modern deep-sea fishing fleets equipped with onboard storage and mother vessels for catch aggregation.
Lakshadweep’s extensive 4,200 sq km lagoon area offers ideal conditions for seaweed cultivation, with global demand for seaweed-based products rising sharply. As a notified Seaweed Cluster under PMMSY, the region already hosts a seed bank and hatchery, and the administration is framing a leasing policy to promote private-sector offshore seaweed farming.
The islands’ marine biodiversity — nearly 300 ornamental fish species across 35 families — presents strong potential for hatcheries, broodstock development, and export-oriented aquarium trade ventures.
Additionally, Lakshadweep’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone of roughly four lakh sq km provides significant scope for offshore cage farming, supported by successful pilot projects elsewhere in India.
