New Delhi, April 11 (ANI): India’s marine product exports have more than doubled over the past 11 years, rising from Rs 30,213 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 62,408 crore in 2024–25. Exporters have been urged to work toward achieving a target of Rs 1 lakh crore while adopting a more open-market approach.
At the Seafood Exporters Meet 2026, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh congratulated exporters for their contribution to the sector’s growth. He noted that seafood exports have shown resilience despite global uncertainties, driven largely by strong performance in non-U.S. markets.
The event, organized by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, provided a platform for engagement between the government and industry stakeholders. Discussions focused on challenges related to market access, pricing pressures, and compliance requirements, as well as strategies for enhancing value addition, market diversification, and marine exports from islands, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the high seas.
The minister emphasized the need for sustained market and product diversification and stressed strict regulatory compliance, including adherence to antibiotic restrictions and strengthened traceability systems. Referring to EEZ rules, he said the framework is being operationalized through access passes, with priority given to cooperative societies to promote inclusive growth.
He highlighted the export potential of high-value species such as tuna from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the EEZ, and the high seas. He also called for improved onboard handling, stronger cold-chain infrastructure, better packaging, and enhanced value addition to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the export ecosystem.
Exporters were urged to work toward the Rs 1 lakh crore target, with assurances of support from institutions such as the Export Inspection Council (EIC), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), NABARD, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
The minister also referred to a recent investors’ meet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which has led to investments in areas such as sea-cage culture, pearl farming, and deep-sea fishing vessels.
Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs George Kurian said that efforts are being made to position fisheries as a high-value, high-demand sector. He emphasized the importance of strict compliance, including traceability and certification, along with improved logistics and value-chain development to sustain export growth.
Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said a focused market diversification strategy has been developed in coordination with MPEDA, the Export Inspection Council, and the Department of Commerce. He added that the department would facilitate direct linkages between exporters and Indian missions abroad to boost seafood exports.
Stakeholders at the meeting highlighted key challenges, including the need to streamline procedures for issuing catch certificates, facilitate permits for seaweed cultivation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and support fish-meal manufacturers in scaling up production of high-quality feed.
They also stressed the importance of expanding inland fisheries and mariculture along the western coast, while addressing broader concerns such as limited market access due to tariff and non-tariff barriers, high compliance costs, gaps in value-added processing capacity, cold-chain and logistics constraints, and the need for stronger traceability and quality assurance systems.
According to the release, India’s seafood exports have grown at an average annual rate of 7 percent over the past 11 years, driven largely by shrimp exports valued at Rs 43,334 crore.
India exports over 350 varieties of seafood products to nearly 130 global markets. The United States remains the largest destination, accounting for 36.42 percent of total export value in 2024–25, followed by China, the European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Middle East.
To reduce dependence on a limited number of commodities and strengthen its global presence, the government is actively promoting diversification of the export basket. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the Department of Fisheries is supporting initiatives across the value chain, including quality fish seed production, expansion of aquaculture, promotion of export-oriented species, technology adoption, disease management, traceability systems, and capacity building.
Investments are also being directed toward strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, seamless cold-chain networks, modern fishing harbors, and fish landing centers. (ANI)
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