Focus on State-Specific Species to Boost Seafood Exports: Rajiv Ranjan Singh

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh has said that value addition and identification of state-specific species are necessary to boost India's seafood exports.

Union Minister Singh stressed the importance of value addition to enhance the export potential of Indian seafood.

At the 'Seafood Exporters Meet 2025', he highlighted the ongoing government initiatives in the fisheries sector, including development of a single window system for better market linkages for all stakeholders, strengthening fisheries in the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and upgrading of infrastructure aimed at improving the fisheries sector.

The Union Minister emphasized the important role of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in addressing the tariff challenges faced by the industry and urged MPEDA to work with the State Governments to accurately map state-wise species-specific exports and conduct stakeholder consultations to identify new export opportunities.

He also assured the stakeholders of the Government's commitment to further strengthen Indian seafood exports.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary (Fisheries), MoFAH&D, highlighted that currently only about 10 per cent of India’s seafood exports are value-added products.

He stressed the need to increase this share to 30-60 per cent in line with global standards through increasing domestic production or import-and-re-export strategies.

Dr. Likhi highlighted the urgent need to reduce post-harvest losses and assured that issues related to tariff and non-tariff barriers would be resolved in coordination with the Department of Commerce, Ministry of External Affairs and other relevant authorities.

India's annual fish production is projected to grow by 104 per cent, from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013-14 to 195 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25.

'Inland fisheries' and 'aquaculture' have emerged as major contributors, accounting for more than 75 per cent of the total production.