Source: News on air
Subject: Mapping and Economy
Context: In a major boost to India’s maritime infrastructure, the Union Department of Fisheries has sanctioned the development of a Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
About Smart Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder:
What it is?
- Mayabunder is a town and tehsil and the administrative headquarters of the North and Middle Andaman district, serving as a key economic, fisheries, and tourism hub in northern Andaman.
Located in:
- Northern part of Middle Andaman Island, within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- About 242 km from Port Blair by road (Andaman Trunk Road) and 136 km by sea.
Geographical features:
- Karmatang Beach: Known as the “Turtle Paradise” of Andaman, Karmatang Beach is a globally recognized sea turtle nesting ground. It serves as a vital eco-sensitive zone where Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles return annually
- Interview Island: As the largest wildlife island in the Andaman group, Interview Island is notable for its natural freshwater springs and limestone caves, a rare feature in saline island systems.
- Avis (Aves) Island: Located near Mayabunder, Avis Island is an uninhabited coral island known for extensive coconut plantations and clear lagoons.
- Mayabunder lies within a seismically active zone and a highly productive marine ecosystem.
Key Features of the Mayabunder Smart Harbour:
- The new harbour isn’t just a landing site; it’s an integrated tech-ecosystem designed to handle 9,900 tonnes of fish annually.
- Vessel Capacity: Safe berthing and landing facilities for 430 fishing vessels.
- IoT-Enabled Systems: Integration of digital traceability and IoT for real-time monitoring
- Sustainable Management: Focused on combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- Energy Efficiency: Implementation of green energy and eco-friendly post-harvest handling to reduce losses.
