To initiate and plan implementation of the project, a Scoping Consultation was conducted in GRT Grand Hotel, Chennai on Febraury 23, 2016. The purpose of the Consultation Meeting was to bring together practitioners and stakeholders from tuna fisheries sector to understand the opportunities and constraints in tuna fisheries in India.
For the consultation, 13 stakeholders namely, fishermen, fish processors, exporters and experts directly involved in tuna fisheries were brought from different locations in India. The consultation brought out the strengths and issues in eight locations along the east and west coasts of India as well as in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. Mapping of issues and opportunities and SWOT analysis of tuna fisheries of India was useful (i) as an initial analysis describing the fishery; (ii) to assess issues; (iii) to focus evaluation questions; and (iv) as an option to gather and retrieve monitoring information.
It has given the lead to conduct Rapid Scoping Appraisal Meetings in selected locations along the Indian coast to map the fishery and markets, collect information on community, typology of fishing operations and enterprises, and identify the value chain.