The first webinar was held on Blue Ports: Gujarat, Diu, and Puducherry to get smart, tech-enabled fishing harbours.
India has joined hands with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN to develop world-class Blue Ports, aiming to modernise and integrate fishing harbours with cutting-edge technologies. The first webinar under FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) was held today, focusing on building capacity, sharing global best practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (DoF), emphasised that fishing ports are strategic gateways to economic prosperity, ecological sustainability, and social inclusion. Highlighting advanced technologies like 5G, AI, automation, and digital platforms, he stressed their role in enhancing efficiency and service delivery. Dr Likhi also underlined the importance of flagship schemes such as PMMSY and FIDF in driving modernisation, climate resilience, traceability, and energy transition in port operations.
Under this initiative, three smart and integrated fishing harbours are being developed in Gujarat (Jakhau), Daman & Diu (Vanakbara), and Puducherry (Karaikal) with a total investment of ₹369.8 crores. These harbours will feature IoT devices, sensor networks, satellite communication, energy-efficient equipment, waste management systems, and eco-friendly infrastructure to ensure safer, cleaner, and more efficient operations for fishing communities.
The webinar featured presentations by FAO officials Jose Estors, Yolanda Molares, and Lucia Lopez de Aragon, covering the Blue Ports framework, global best practices, and case studies such as the Port of Vigo, Spain. Senior officials from FAO Headquarters, coastal state governments, Maritime Boards, Major Port Authorities, and fisheries cooperatives participated, discussing sustainability, stakeholder collaboration, and innovative solutions for India’s fishing sector.
Dr Likhi welcomed FAO’s support in piloting strategic upgrades at Vanakbara and Jakhau ports, emphasising that these projects will strengthen livelihoods, promote exports, and enhance competitiveness in the fisheries sector.
The Blue Ports programme underlines India’s commitment to technology-driven, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive fisheries infrastructure, setting the stage for smarter, safer, and more efficient harbours across the country.
Source: PIB
