The Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three Finland-based companies to modernise Sassoon Dock and develop it into a technology-driven and environmentally sustainable fishing harbour.
The agreement was signed with Finnish firms Helvar, Mirasis and River Recycle at an event held in Mumbai. The collaboration will focus on upgrading dock infrastructure, introducing new technology and implementing sustainable practices to improve operational systems at the harbour.
Under the partnership, the project will address issues related to plastic waste management, recycling of discarded fishing nets and the introduction of improved net-repair systems. The initiative will also include training and capacity-building programmes for fishermen and dock workers to support the use of modern equipment and practices at the dock.
Sassoon Dock is among India’s oldest fishing harbours and remains an important centre for the state’s fisheries sector. According to Maharashtra Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane, the harbour currently accommodates around 1,560 registered mechanised fishing boats.
The dock records an average annual fish output of approximately 50,000 to 60,000 metric tonnes and supports a large number of fishermen, traders and workers involved in Mumbai’s seafood supply chain.
In recent years, the state government has implemented several infrastructure upgrades at the harbour. These include the construction of net-mending sheds, workshops, underground water storage facilities, pump houses and protective boundary walls. Public amenities at the dock have also been refurbished to improve working conditions for the fishing community.
Additional development projects are currently underway, including the establishment of an ice plant, strengthening of the jetty wall, fishermen’s rest areas and a modern fish auction hall. The collaboration with Finnish firms is expected to further strengthen sustainability initiatives and improve waste management systems at the harbour.
Source: GK Today
