Lok Sabha Question No. 3029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Indian Sea Food Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAGHAV LAKHANPAL, KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3029 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## INDIAN SEA FOOD INDUSTRY

## 3029.  SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL: SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether  the  Indian  sea  food  Processing  Industry  has  been  working  much  below  its capacity owing to shortage of raw materials;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to help the sea food Processing Industry to improve its position;
- (c) whether the Indian sea food industry needs to have a conservation policy to revive the coastal resources and sea food if so, the other steps taken by the Government so far to save the Industry and also improve its profitability;
- (d) the quantum of sea food including prawns, fresh and dry fishes produced, exported and imported in the country during each of the last two years; and
- (e) whether  any  countries  have  imposed  any  restriction/ban/countervailing  duty  on  the import of prawns from India and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) Yes,  Madam. Sea food process facilities send to  work  below their capacity  during non-peak landing seasons.
- (b) The processing infrastructure in the country is established to cater the needs of the peak landing seasons which dips during off seasons. Following are the steps  taken  by  Marine  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (MPEDA)  to improve the position of seafood processing industry:-
- (i) MPEDA is operating financial assistance schemes for infrastructure establishment for value addition.
- (ii) There is a scheme on 'Seafreight assistance for the import of raw material' being run by MPEDA for the entrepreneurs to import the raw material for re-processing and export in value added form.
- (iii)  MPEDA  is  taking steps to augment production through aquaculture by implementing a number  of aquaculture promotional schemes  and  Better Management Practices by aquaculture farmers.
- (iv)  The  Ministry  of  food  process  Industry  has  also  formulated  schemes    of suggesting marine processing.
- (c) Yes, Madam. Indian seafood industry is currently propelled by the coastal aquaculture production. As far as sea caught varieties are concerned, steps are being taken by the respective State Governments under their Fisheries Regulation  Acts  to  conserve  their  resources,  besides  augmenting  fish production.
- (d) Export of marine products from India during last two years are as follows:

| Year                      |         2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|---------------------------|-----------------|-----------|
| Quantity (in metric tons) |     1.07397e+06 |  978027   |
| Value (in Rs. Crores)     | 33688.4         |   31219.4 |
| Value (in million US $)   |  5510.49        |    4767.5 |

Import of marine products from India during last two years is as follows:-

| Year                      |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|---------------------------|-----------|-----------|
| Quantity (in metric tons) |  27721.3  |  50129.2  |
| Value (in Rs. Crores)     |    453.9  |    639.77 |
| Value (in million US $)   |     73.93 |     97.23 |

(Source; DGCIS)

- (e) Yes,  Madam.  Based  on  the  representations  of  Southern  Shrimp  Producers Alliance, the association of local shrimp producers in USA, the US Department of Commerce  has  imposed  anti-dumping  duty  on  shrimp  imports  from  India  since 2004.  The  initial  anti  dumping  duty  imposed  was  10.17%,  which  is  presently 2.20% after many reviews.

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