Lok Sabha Question No. 1272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Strategy to Boost Seafood Exports
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1272 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2024

## STRATEGY TO BOOST SEAFOOD EXPORTS

## 1272.  SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT: SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

(a) whether  there  are  plans  for  an  adoption  of  a  new  strategy  to  boost  seafood  exports, especially in light of the global pandemic and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of current status of the volume of export of seafood from the country during the last two years, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether exports have been diverted via the Cape of Good Hope route and the impact of this on the seafood export from the country, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether export from India are continuing as the sailings of containers carrying ships from India in view of diversions, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of measures taken to support the exporters hit by increase in freight cost?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) The Government through Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), a statutory organisation under administrative control of Department of Commerce has undertaken various measures for  export promotion of marine products from the country,  especially in the light  of  the  global  pandemic.  These  measures  inter-alia  include  participation  in  International trade  fairs,  organising  Buyer-Seller  Meets  (BSMs)  both  in  virtual  &  physical  mode,  Reverse Buyer  Seller  Meets  (RBSMs)  and  providing  financial  support  for  processing  and  exporting seafood based value-added products.  In order to tap export potential in new markets, MPEDA has also carried out product & country specific profiling for various seafood products.  With a view  to  promote  Ease  of  Doing  Business  for  the  seafood  exporters,  MPEDA  has  completely digitized the process of issuing export facilitation certificates and rationalized various regulatory compliances.

Further, MPEDA has established a Nucleus Breeding Centre for the Specific PathogenFree (SPF) Tiger Shrimp breeding project in Andaman Island which is expected to make India

self-reliant and boost shrimp production as well as its exports. In order to make Indian seafood based value added products competitive in International markets, the Government, in the Budget 2024-25  has  announced  reduction  of  Basic  Customs  Duty  (BCD)  on  various  key  aquaculture ingredients/inputs (used for prawn/shrimp feed or fish feed) such as reduction of duty from 15% to Nil on Fish lipid Oil (HS 1504 20) & Algal prime (flour) (HS 2102 2000), 5% to Nil on Krill meal  (HS  2301  20),  30%  to  Nil  on  Crude  Fish  oil  and  5%  to  Nil  on  Mineral  and  Vitamin Premixes (HS 2309 90 90).

Apart from this, the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) rates have also been increased from 2.5% to 3.1% for various seafood products and maximum value cap per kg has been increased to Rs. 69.00.

MPEDA also conducts a number of training programs such as Harbour & Pre-processing centre-based training for fisherfolks on good handling practices, reduction of post-harvest losses, quality and standards related requirements of importing countries, training on value addition in seafood exports and training on Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) for quality control technologists etc.

As  a  result  of  these  efforts,  the  seafood  exports  from  India  has  increased  from  USD 5957.37 million in 2020-21 to USD 7372.00 million in 2023-24 registering a growth of 23.74%.

(b) the details of current status of the volume of export of seafood from the country during the last two years, State/UT-wise is given in the Annexure .

(c) to (e) Exports  from  India  are  continuing  as  the  sailings  of  containers  carrying  ships from  India  have  been  diverted  via  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  route.  Despite  the  challenges,  the seafood  exports  increased  in  quantity  terms  from  17.54  Lakh  Tonnes  in  the  year  2022-23  to 18.19 Lakh Tonnes in the year 2023-24, registering a growth of 3.73%.

Some  increase  in  freight  cost  has  been  reported  by  industry.  Government  has  been keeping watch over the interests of  exporters, including seafood exporters. During heightened activities,  Indian  Navy  had  substantially  enhanced  maritime  surveillance  efforts  in  Central  / North  Arabian  Sea  and  augmented  force  levels.  Aerial  surveillance  by  long-range  maritime patrol  aircraft  and  Remotely  Piloted  Aircraft ( RPA ) system  had  been  enhanced  to  have  a complete  maritime  domain  awareness.  Towards  effective  surveillance  of  exclusive  economic zone (EEZ), Indian Navy is operating in close coordination with Coast Guard.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1272 for answer on 03.12.2024.

| State-wise Volume of Export of Indian Marine Products in last 2 years   | State-wise Volume of Export of Indian Marine Products in last 2 years   | State-wise Volume of Export of Indian Marine Products in last 2 years   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State/UT                                                                | Quantity (in Lakh Tonnes)                                               | Quantity (in Lakh Tonnes)                                               |
|                                                                         | 2022-23                                                                 | 2023-24*                                                                |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands                                             | 0.005                                                                   | 0.003                                                                   |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                          | 3.870                                                                   | 4.272                                                                   |
| Assam                                                                   | 0.004                                                                   | 0.004                                                                   |
| Bihar                                                                   | 0.005                                                                   | 0.018                                                                   |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu                                   | 0.034                                                                   | 0.032                                                                   |
| Delhi                                                                   | 0.000                                                                   | 0.000                                                                   |
| Goa                                                                     | 0.808                                                                   | 0.738                                                                   |
| Gujarat                                                                 | 2.934                                                                   | 3.451                                                                   |
| Haryana                                                                 | 0.000                                                                   | 0.000                                                                   |
| Jharkhand                                                               | 0.000                                                                   | 0.000                                                                   |
| Karnataka                                                               | 2.984                                                                   | 2.735                                                                   |
| Kerala                                                                  | 2.116                                                                   | 1.887                                                                   |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                          | 0.000                                                                   | 0.000                                                                   |
| Maharashtra                                                             | 1.665                                                                   | 1.701                                                                   |
| Meghalaya                                                               | 0.000                                                                   | 0.000                                                                   |
| Odisha                                                                  | 0.819                                                                   | 0.818                                                                   |
| Puducherry                                                              | 0.001                                                                   | 0.002                                                                   |

| Punjab        |   0.001 |   0.001 |
|---------------|---------|---------|
| Rajasthan     |   0     |   0     |
| Tamil Nadu    |   0.914 |   0.89  |
| Telangana     |   0.013 |   0.03  |
| Uttar Pradesh |   0.006 |   0.008 |
| Uttarakhand   |   0     |   0     |
| West Bengal   |   1.361 |   1.607 |
| Unspecified   |   0.001 |   0     |
| Total         |  17.542 |  18.196 |

Source: DGCIS

*Provisional data

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