Seafood exports survive tsunami to hit record turnover

Kochi, Jun 8 (UNI) Surviving the tsunami impact on the Indian coasts, the seafood exports has reached an all time high by crossing 1.5 billion dollar mark during the last financial year, according to the annual report by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

The country exported 512,164 tonnes of seafoods against 461,329 tonnes of 2004-05, registering a growth of 11.02 per cent, said the report released by Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh here today.

In spite of the tsunami and its impact on fisheries sector, floods in the east and western coasts and the adverse market conditions in various overseas markets due to trade barriers, the seafood exports grew by 11 per cent in the overall.

The total earnings stood at Rs 7245.30 crore, compared to the Rs 6646.69 crore of the previous year, with an increase of 9.01 per cent in value terms, thus the sector making positive growth for two consecutive years after a long gap.

Frozen shrimp continued to be the major cache, accounting for 59 per cent of the export value, followed by frozen fish (14 per cent), cuttlefish (8 per cent), squid (8 per cent) and dried items (2 per cent).

As in the previous years, the European Union remained the major market with a share of 29 per cent, followed by USA with 23 per cent, Japan (16 per cent), China (12 per cent) and South East Asia (8 per cent), the report said.

With a total area of 140,682 hectares of shrimp culture and 43,433 hectares of scampi culture, the country produced 143,170 tonnes of shrimp and 42,820 tonnes of fresh water pawn during last year.

MPEDA has been promoting a mission mode programme to enhance the aquaculture in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Orissa in a big way, along with the present strongholds of Andhra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the report said.

In order to give further boost for aquaculture by projecting the potential of the country, the MPEDA would be holding 3rd INDAQUA exhibition in Chennai from January 11 to 13, the report said.

The plans were afoot to make the country one of the top seafood exporters by 2015, by crossing a turnover of 6 billion dollar and the agency had identified the areas of tuna exploitation, diversification and promotion of value added products in focuss.

MPEDA chairman G Mohan Kumar was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Minister visited the office of the agency and held talks with seafood exporters and other stake-holders.

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