Lok Sabha Question No. 4044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Role of MPEDA in Strengthening India’s Marine Exports
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4044 ANSWERED ON 17/03/2026

## ROLE OF MPEDA IN STRENGTHENING INDIA'S MARINE EXPORTS

## 4044.  SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of COMMERCE  AND  INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the role played by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in enhancing India's marine exports, along with the details of export trends in terms of quantity and value during the last five years;
- (b) the details of marine fish production and exports, including contributions from inland fisheries, aquaculture and offshore fishing, State-wise;
- (c) whether steps have been taken to identify State-specific high-value species to diversify exports and reduce dependence on a single dominant species, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the future outlook for India's marine exports in view of recently concluded and ongoing trade agreements with the EU, EFTA, Oman, UAE, US, UK and New Zealand; and
- (e) whether measures have been initiated to promote sustainable fishing practices, improve traceability and reduce the carbon footprint of the fisheries sector to address  emerging  trade  measures  such  as  possible  expansion  of  carbon border adjustment mechanisms to fisheries, if so, the details thereof?'

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a): The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), a statutory body under the Department of Commerce, Government of India, is mandated to promote the  export  of  Indian  marine  products,  including  shrimp,  prawn,  lobster,  crab,  fish, shellfish  and  other  aquatic  products.  MPEDA  is  responsible  for  regulating  marine product  exports,  ensuring  quality  standards  and  promoting  sustainable  seafood exports.  It  is  empowered  to  conduct  inspections,  set  standards  and  specifications, provide training and support overseas marketing of Indian seafood.

As  the  nodal  agency  for  the  development  of  the  seafood  export  sector,  the  major activities  undertaken  by  MPEDA  include  Market  Promotion,  Quality  Control,  Trade Facilitation, Infrastructure Development and Value Addition, Aquaculture Development for strengthening supply chain, Collaboration and Institutional Coordination,  providing  training  and  capacity  building,  technology  adoption  and innovation.

During  FY  2024-25,  India  exported  about  1.69  million  tonnes  of  marine  products, valued  at  approximately  USD  7.45  billion  (Source:  MPEDA),  with  frozen  shrimp accounting for about 69% of export value. The remaining export volume comprises other marine products such as squid, cuttlefish, surimi-based products, and fishmeal.

The details of export trends in terms of quantity and value during the last five years is as given below:

| Year    | Quantity (MT)   | Value (₹ Crore)   | Value (US$ Million)   |
|---------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------------|
| 2020-21 | 11,49,510       | 43,720.98         | 5,956.93              |
| 2021-22 | 13,69,264       | 57,586.48         | 7,759.58              |
| 2022-23 | 17,35,286       | 63,969.14         | 8,094.31              |
| 2023-24 | 17,81,602       | 60,523.89         | 7,381.89              |
| 2024-25 | 16,98,170       | 62,408.45         | 7,453.73              |

(Source: MPEDA)

(b): The State-wise export details for the last five years (Aquaculture & Wild-caught) are provided as Annexure I.

(c): Steps taken to identify State-specific high value species to diversify exports and reduce dependence on a single dominant species include efforts made with states to promote  diversification,  strengthen  state-level  collaboration  for  technology  transfer and capacity building and establishing an effective network among fisheries officials for  sustainable  knowledge  and  technical  exchange.  MPEDA  promotes  diversified aquaculture,  covering  high-value  species  such  as  seabass,  cobia,  pompano,  mud crab, GIF tilapia & Scampi. Further, RGCA, the Technology Transfer wing of MPEDA, has  standardized  the  breeding  and  rearing  techniques  for  commercially  important species,  which  has  the  potential  to  enhance  the  productivity  and  sustainability  of aquaculture in India. Also, RGCA, for the development of diversified aquaculture, is operating  various  facilities  through  which  it  provides  technical  support  to  the stakeholders and seed supply.

(d): The future outlook for India's marine exports is positive with the recently concluded and ongoing trade agreements with the EU, EFTA, Oman, UAE, US, UK and New Zealand. The  strategies  being  adopted  to  strengthen  India's  position  in  the  global seafood  trade  include  promoting  expansion  of  value-added  seafood  processing, strengthening the cold chain and logistics infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses, improving traceability and  compliance  systems  to address non-tariff barriers, diversifying  export  markets and  leveraging  FTAs  to  reduce  dependence  on  a  few major destinations, enhancing branding and promotion of Indian seafood products in global  markets  through  various  measures  including  fair  participations  and  trade delegations,  promoting  diversification  of  aquaculture  species  beyond  shrimp  to enhance raw material availability for processing. With respect to exports to the United States (US), the government is continuously engaging with its counterparts in US to ensure continued access to US market at competitive terms.

(e) Measures initiated to promote sustainable fishing practices, improve traceability and reduce the  carbon  footprint  of  the  fisheries  sector  to  address  emerging  trade measures such as possible expansion of carbon border adjustment mechanisms to fisheries is given as Annexure II .

*****

## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4044 for answer on 17.03.2026

## Annexure I

State-wise export details during the last five years (Aquaculture & Wild caught) are given below in separate tables:

| STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF AQUACULTURE Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                    | 2020-21                                                                                                            | 2021-22                                                                                                            | 2022-23                                                                                                            | 2023-24                                                                                                            | 2024-25                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 9237                                                                                                               | 6607                                                                                                               | 8896                                                                                                               | 9465                                                                                                               | 14777                                                                                                              |
| GUJARAT                                                                                                            | V                                                                                                                  | 514.21                                                                                                             | 417.50                                                                                                             | 538.48                                                                                                             | 474.74                                                                                                             | 612.94                                                                                                             |
| GUJARAT                                                                                                            | $                                                                                                                  | 70.12                                                                                                              | 56.71                                                                                                              | 67.21                                                                                                              | 57.76                                                                                                              | 73.34                                                                                                              |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                        | Q                                                                                                                  | 29550                                                                                                              | 59285                                                                                                              | 59655                                                                                                              | 56859                                                                                                              | 57368                                                                                                              |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                        | V                                                                                                                  | 1480.11                                                                                                            | 3334.01                                                                                                            | 3384.00                                                                                                            | 3011.67                                                                                                            | 3085.58                                                                                                            |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                        | $                                                                                                                  | 201.36                                                                                                             | 453.24                                                                                                             | 427.91                                                                                                             | 367.25                                                                                                             | 369.16                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 3911                                                                                                               | 3439                                                                                                               | 3811                                                                                                               | 4817                                                                                                               | 1781                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 177.35                                                                                                             | 183.01                                                                                                             | 184.31                                                                                                             | 204.30                                                                                                             | 71.52                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 24.15                                                                                                              | 24.87                                                                                                              | 23.28                                                                                                              | 24.94                                                                                                              | 8.62                                                                                                               |
| KARNATAKA                                                                                                          | Q                                                                                                                  | 703                                                                                                                | 2045                                                                                                               | 1427                                                                                                               | 2416                                                                                                               | 3923                                                                                                               |
| KARNATAKA                                                                                                          | V                                                                                                                  | 25.83                                                                                                              | 90.25                                                                                                              | 67.96                                                                                                              | 94.08                                                                                                              | 168.85                                                                                                             |
| KARNATAKA                                                                                                          | $                                                                                                                  | 3.47                                                                                                               | 12.28                                                                                                              | 8.58                                                                                                               | 11.49                                                                                                              | 20.05                                                                                                              |
| KERALA                                                                                                             | Q                                                                                                                  | 43042                                                                                                              | 57680                                                                                                              | 49131                                                                                                              | 44293                                                                                                              | 40964                                                                                                              |
| KERALA                                                                                                             | V                                                                                                                  | 2379.32                                                                                                            | 3050.75                                                                                                            | 2858.36                                                                                                            | 2657.83                                                                                                            | 2590.03                                                                                                            |
| KERALA                                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                  | 323.88                                                                                                             | 421.49                                                                                                             | 368.53                                                                                                             | 324.11                                                                                                             | 309.27                                                                                                             |
| TAMIL                                                                                                              | Q                                                                                                                  | 75701                                                                                                              | 79000                                                                                                              | 77814                                                                                                              | 80574                                                                                                              | 80221                                                                                                              |
| TAMIL                                                                                                              | V                                                                                                                  | 4304.86                                                                                                            | 5019.32                                                                                                            | 5114.03                                                                                                            | 4896.88                                                                                                            | 5176.84                                                                                                            |
| TAMIL                                                                                                              | $                                                                                                                  | 586.11                                                                                                             | 684.08                                                                                                             | 647.19                                                                                                             | 597.17                                                                                                             | 618.09                                                                                                             |
| ANDHRA                                                                                                             | Q                                                                                                                  | 266624                                                                                                             | 312932                                                                                                             | 305401                                                                                                             | 325641                                                                                                             | 349642                                                                                                             |
| ANDHRA                                                                                                             | V                                                                                                                  | 15292.15                                                                                                           | 19569.10                                                                                                           | 19342.85                                                                                                           | 18861.47                                                                                                           | 20796.37                                                                                                           |
| ANDHRA                                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                  | 2081.04                                                                                                            | 2657.67                                                                                                            | 2449.18                                                                                                            | 2301.15                                                                                                            | 2483.08                                                                                                            |
| TELANGANA                                                                                                          | Q                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                  | 2332                                                                                                               | 6213                                                                                                               | 10671                                                                                                              | 10243                                                                                                              |
| TELANGANA                                                                                                          | V                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 129.41                                                                                                             | 338.97                                                                                                             | 516.03                                                                                                             | 558.51                                                                                                             |
| TELANGANA                                                                                                          | $                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 17.54                                                                                                              | 42.72                                                                                                              | 63.04                                                                                                              | 66.63                                                                                                              |
| ODISHA                                                                                                             | Q                                                                                                                  | 57363                                                                                                              | 83047                                                                                                              | 80456                                                                                                              | 80139                                                                                                              | 88627                                                                                                              |
| ODISHA                                                                                                             | V                                                                                                                  | 2957.59                                                                                                            | 4476.85                                                                                                            | 4322.25                                                                                                            | 3798.40                                                                                                            | 4532.15                                                                                                            |
| ODISHA                                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                  | 402.09                                                                                                             | 615.92                                                                                                             | 554.44                                                                                                             | 463.52                                                                                                             | 541.86                                                                                                             |
| WEST                                                                                                               | Q                                                                                                                  | 43731                                                                                                              | 57708                                                                                                              | 63930                                                                                                              | 55063                                                                                                              | 54980                                                                                                              |
| WEST                                                                                                               | V                                                                                                                  | 2512.91                                                                                                            | 3355.71                                                                                                            | 3788.54                                                                                                            | 2979.70                                                                                                            | 3199.48                                                                                                            |
| WEST                                                                                                               | $                                                                                                                  | 341.75                                                                                                             | 467.25                                                                                                             | 490.61                                                                                                             | 363.77                                                                                                             | 383.42                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                  | 748                                                                                                                | 1083                                                                                                               | 1292                                                                                                               | 585                                                                                                                |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 37.14                                                                                                              | 63.61                                                                                                              | 79.72                                                                                                              | 39.04                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 5.04                                                                                                               | 7.96                                                                                                               | 9.70                                                                                                               | 4.70                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                  | 75                                                                                                                 | 1121                                                                                                               | 752                                                                                                                | 319                                                                                                                |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 0.71                                                                                                               | 11.63                                                                                                              | 6.87                                                                                                               | 7.56                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 0.09                                                                                                               | 1.46                                                                                                               | 0.85                                                                                                               | 0.91                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 529862                                                                                                             | 664900                                                                                                             | 658937                                                                                                             | 671982                                                                                                             | 703429                                                                                                             |

| V   | 29644.33   | 39663.76   | 40014.99   | 37581.71        | 40838.85        |
|-----|------------|------------|------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| $   | 4033.96    | 5416.18    | 5089.07    | 4584.76         | 4879.12         |
|     |            |            |            | (Source: MPEDA) | (Source: MPEDA) |

| STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   | STATE-WISE EXPORT DETAILS OF WILD CAUGHT Q: Quantity in MT, V: Value in Rs. Crore, $: Value in US Dollar Million   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                    | 2020-21                                                                                                            | 2021-22                                                                                                            | 2022-23                                                                                                            | 2023-24                                                                                                            | 2024-25                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 194680                                                                                                             | 193492                                                                                                             | 239967                                                                                                             | 274623                                                                                                             | 267381                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 3674.31                                                                                                            | 4003.61                                                                                                            | 4928.46                                                                                                            | 5036.61                                                                                                            | 5276.36                                                                                                            |
| GUJARAT                                                                                                            | $                                                                                                                  | 501.97                                                                                                             | 542.36                                                                                                             | 618.00                                                                                                             | 613.84                                                                                                             | 629.41                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 81272                                                                                                              | 134714                                                                                                             | 154513                                                                                                             | 165594                                                                                                             | 170498                                                                                                             |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                        | V                                                                                                                  | 2204.83                                                                                                            | 3969.91                                                                                                            | 4082.47                                                                                                            | 3911.67                                                                                                            | 4257.80                                                                                                            |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                        | $                                                                                                                  | 301.50                                                                                                             | 482.53                                                                                                             | 513.59                                                                                                             | 476.89                                                                                                             | 507.26                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 12638                                                                                                              | 32618                                                                                                              | 59523                                                                                                              | 50350                                                                                                              | 43688                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 257.90                                                                                                             | 547.63                                                                                                             | 823.29                                                                                                             | 729.90                                                                                                             | 717.29                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 35.32                                                                                                              | 74.16                                                                                                              | 102.66                                                                                                             | 88.84                                                                                                              | 85.71                                                                                                              |
| KARNATAKA                                                                                                          | Q                                                                                                                  | 120645                                                                                                             | 118381                                                                                                             | 310921                                                                                                             | 298767                                                                                                             | 238221                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 1663.31                                                                                                            | 1871.94                                                                                                            | 4669.27                                                                                                            | 4690.96                                                                                                            | 3271.72                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 227.66                                                                                                             | 253.99                                                                                                             | 581.64                                                                                                             | 571.82                                                                                                             | 390.73                                                                                                             |
| KERALA                                                                                                             | Q                                                                                                                  | 114656                                                                                                             | 124750                                                                                                             | 169499                                                                                                             | 152514                                                                                                             | 138696                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 3243.80                                                                                                            | 3920.81                                                                                                            | 5426.67                                                                                                            | 4574.01                                                                                                            | 4351.33                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 442.88                                                                                                             | 536.68                                                                                                             | 684.19                                                                                                             | 557.94                                                                                                             | 520.15                                                                                                             |
| TAMIL                                                                                                              | Q                                                                                                                  | 34322                                                                                                              | 35809                                                                                                              | 45343                                                                                                              | 53743                                                                                                              | 50094                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 1260.62                                                                                                            | 1540.32                                                                                                            | 1843.64                                                                                                            | 1957.34                                                                                                            | 1857.75                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 171.94                                                                                                             | 208.84                                                                                                             | 231.84                                                                                                             | 238.87                                                                                                             | 222.02                                                                                                             |
| ANDHRA                                                                                                             | Q                                                                                                                  | 13368                                                                                                              | 11972                                                                                                              | 22759                                                                                                              | 22286                                                                                                              | 16540                                                                                                              |
| ANDHRA                                                                                                             | V                                                                                                                  | 539.59                                                                                                             | 466.40                                                                                                             | 504.10                                                                                                             | 558.91                                                                                                             | 449.53                                                                                                             |
| ANDHRA                                                                                                             | $                                                                                                                  | 73.51                                                                                                              | 63.29                                                                                                              | 63.81                                                                                                              | 68.18                                                                                                              | 53.68                                                                                                              |
| TELANGANA                                                                                                          | Q                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                  | 771                                                                                                                | 463                                                                                                                | 1086                                                                                                               | 1529                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 27.50                                                                                                              | 19.42                                                                                                              | 49.06                                                                                                              | 56.91                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 3.73                                                                                                               | 2.42                                                                                                               | 5.98                                                                                                               | 6.82                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 3355                                                                                                               | 3717                                                                                                               | 4852                                                                                                               | 4092                                                                                                               | 3541                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 150.08                                                                                                             | 151.05                                                                                                             | 224.22                                                                                                             | 156.20                                                                                                             | 135.86                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 20.37                                                                                                              | 20.45                                                                                                              | 28.02                                                                                                              | 19.03                                                                                                              | 16.18                                                                                                              |
| WEST                                                                                                               | Q                                                                                                                  | 44712                                                                                                              | 45691                                                                                                              | 61095                                                                                                              | 77255                                                                                                              | 59549                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 1082.21                                                                                                            | 1386.76                                                                                                            | 1332.79                                                                                                            | 1165.81                                                                                                            | 1121.60                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 147.83                                                                                                             | 152.42                                                                                                             | 166.61                                                                                                             | 142.08                                                                                                             | 133.88                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                  | 18                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                  | 2                                                                                                                  | 24                                                                                                                 |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 1.86                                                                                                               | 0.00                                                                                                               | 0.11                                                                                                               | 1.47                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 0.25                                                                                                               | 0.00                                                                                                               | 0.01                                                                                                               | 0.18                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                  | 2432                                                                                                               | 7415                                                                                                               | 9306                                                                                                               | 4980                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 34.93                                                                                                              | 99.84                                                                                                              | 111.59                                                                                                             | 71.98                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 0.00                                                                                                               | 4.71                                                                                                               | 12.46                                                                                                              | 13.65                                                                                                              | 8.60                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                    | Q                                                                                                                  | 619648                                                                                                             | 704364                                                                                                             | 1076349                                                                                                            | 1109620                                                                                                            | 994741                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                    | V                                                                                                                  | 14076.65                                                                                                           | 17922.72                                                                                                           | 23954.16                                                                                                           | 22942.18                                                                                                           | 21569.60                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                                    | $                                                                                                                  | 1922.97                                                                                                            | 2343.40                                                                                                            | 3005.24                                                                                                            | 2797.13                                                                                                            | 2574.61                                                                                                            |

(Source: MPEDA)

## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4044 for answer on 17.03.2026

## Annexure II

Measures initiated to promote sustainable fishing practices, improve traceability and reduce the carbon footprint of the fisheries sector to address emerging  trade  measures  such  as  possible  expansion  of  carbon  border adjustment mechanisms to fisheries is given as below:

## i. Export Traceability and Regulation of IUU Fishing

To ensure traceability and regulate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, MPEDA issues various Export Facilitation Certificates, including the Catch Certificate, Japan Catch Documentation  Scheme  (JCDS), ICCAT  certificates, DS  2031, Certificate of Legal Origin for Chile, and Non-Radioactive Certificates for exports to high-value markets. MPEDA has also developed an online platform for validation of these certificates to ensure compliance with international market requirements and to facilitate smooth export procedures.

## ii. Sustainable Fishing and Turtle Excluder Device (TED) Implementation

To  meet  sustainability  requirements  of  the  United  States,  MPEDA,  with  technical support from US-NOAA and ICAR-CIFT, modified the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) design  to  comply  with  US  standards.  Based  on  MPEDA's  recommendation,  the Department of Fisheries (DoF) issued notifications for the enforcement of TED use across coastal States. Installation of TEDs on trawlers is now supported under the Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  with  financial  assistance  of ₹23,485 per TED, enabling India to meet US sustainability requirements.

## iii. Compliance with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

To comply with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), MPEDA submitted the  Comparability  Finding  Application  (CFA)  to  US-NOAA  on  25  November  2021, supported by scientific studies from Fishery Survey of India (FSI), ICAR-CMFRI, and NETFISH. Based on these submissions, the US recognized 14 Indian export fisheries as comparable, allowing the export of wild-caught marine products (excluding wildcaught shrimp) to the US market from 1st January 2026.

## iv. Strengthening Fisheries Governance

Following MPEDA's initiatives, several coastal States have initiated amendments to their Marine Fishing Regulation Acts to incorporate provisions for sustainable fishing and improved fisheries management.

## v. Promotion of Sustainable Aquaculture - NaCSA

The National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA), a society under MPEDA, promotes  sustainable  and  responsible  aquaculture  practices  across  the  country. Under this initiative, five farmer societies have been selected as NaCSA Clusters of Excellence  (NaCE)  to  serve  as  model  clusters  demonstrating  best  aquaculture practices on a pilot scale.

## vi. Advanced Technological Transformation in Aquaculture (ATTA)

MPEDA has implemented the Advanced Technological Transformation in Aquaculture (ATTA) scheme to modernise existing aquaculture units. The scheme supports the adoption  of  advanced  technologies  to  improve  productivity,  sustainability,  and compliance with international quality and safety standards.

## vii. Digital Traceability System - Aqua Trace

MPEDA has developed Aqua Trace, a mobile and web-based traceability system that enables aquaculture farmers to self-enrol and map farms using drone and satellite imagery. The enrolment IDs are linked to certification systems and the mandatory PreHarvest  Test  (PHT)  scheme  required  for  exports  to  the  EU  and  UK,  ensuring traceability and compliance with international market requirements.

## viii. Promotion of Seaweed farming

MPEDA collaborates with Govt. of Tamil  Nadu and  other  private  entrepreneurs  to promote  seaweed  farming  in  India,  which  has  the  potential  to  sustain  the  carbon ecosystem of the marine environment, besides providing alternate livelihood to small and artisanal fishers. The seaweed products are also in high demand in both domestic and international markets.

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