Paradeep Fishing Harbour is one of the major fishing harbours of the country and contributes a significant share towards seafood export. It has achieved the credit of EIA approval from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The European Union Team has also visited this harbour for its value-added products. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Technical Team of the US State Department has also expressed satisfaction with the safety and environmental assessment of capture sea fisheries.

The major species landing in the Fishing Harbour are (i) Prawns, (ii) Pomfret, (iii) Ribbon fish, (iv) Squid, (v) Mackerel, (vi) Crocker, (vii) Crabs, (viii) Sole, (ix) Cat Fish, and (x) Eel. These species have high demand in both national and international markets. All fish landings are maintained with a proper cold chain and processed hygienically for value addition to fetch better prices. The harbour authorities regularly monitor these processes to maintain quality.

The Fishing Harbour has generated direct and indirect employment for a large number of people involved in the fishing trade and is considered a major industry in Paradeep. Various categories of workers depend on activities within and outside the harbour area for their livelihood. Nearly 25,000 people are directly or indirectly employed in the fishing trade promoted by this harbour.

LOCATION OF THE HARBOUR

The Harbour is located in the Right Bank of Mahanadi River at Nehru Bangala, Sector-21, Paradeep Dist. Jagatsinghpur. It is 20° 28' latitude and 86° 70' longitude and near the confluence point of the Mahanadi River and Bay of Bengal.

COMMUNICATION

The nearest Airport is Bhubaneswar & Railway Station is Paradeep. The distance about 120 Km. from Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha.

HISTORY OF HARBOUR

The Integrated Fishing Harbour at Sector-21, Paradeep was constructed in the year 1996 with a project cost of Rs. 38.07 crores at the behest of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It is the largest Fishing Harbour in the state and one of the major Fishing Harbours of the country.

The boats started operating from this Harbour in the year 1998. The Harbour was kept under the management of Paradeep Port Trust (PPT), while the fishing regulation was monitored by the Fisheries Department.

In the year 2011, the Harbour was transferred to the Management Society under the control of the Fisheries & ARD Department, Government of Odisha, for its smooth operation and management.