Cochin Fisheries Harbour at Thoppumpady is all set for a facelift with a view to meeting the international standards of hygiene and cleanliness and thereby ensuring quality of the fish.
The renovated facilities at the harbour were inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas on January 28.
The Port Trust authorities have said the development of the harbour would be implemented in a phased manner. “A master plan for land use in the harbour has been prepared through consultants, which suggests fishing- related and other development activities be carried out in a phased manner,” the authorities said.
The master plan proposes an aquarium, exhibition-cum-sales counters of sea shell products, seafood restaurants serving ethnic sea foods of different regions, a retail fish market and marine business centre.
Based on the recommendations in the land use plan report, expression of interest has been invited for leasing out 3.8 acres of area in the harbour compound to develop fishing-related activities.
The report also recommends additional facilities in the wharf area which include an additional rest room and toilet block, extension of existing net repairing hall, weigh bridge, construction of godown and licensing the area for storage of fish crates and additional fish gear and net repair shed.
The Cochin Fisheries Harbour was established by the Cochin Port Trust as a grant-in-aid project under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 1978-79.
A 300-tonne capacity slipway complex was constructed in 1987. Additional facilities were created during 1992 and 2004. In 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture granted `9.80 crore for further upgradation and work was completed by December 2012. The dredging work at Harbour Basin was carried out at a cost of `2.2 crore of which 50 per cent was borne by the Cochin Port Trust. The dredging work was completed in July 2012.