Indian Seafood Exports Float up to $1.89Bn

Despite a slow down in fish landings along the Indian coastline and fall in aquaculture production, the country was able to notch up a 2.49 per cent growth in dollar exports mainly due to a surge in unit value realisation, reports Money Control.

“This was the fourth year in succession that the country has been able to achieve record export earnings in dollar terms,” Mr Mohan Kumar said. However, according to Money Control, there was a decline of 8.88 per cent in rupee terms which was accompanied by a 11.58 per cent fall in export quantum. The unit value realisation moved up on the back of sharp price rise for cuttlefish and squid. Frozen shrimp accounted for 52 per cent of total marine exports at $980 million followed by frozen fish valued at 17 per cent at $326 million, frozen cuttlefish at nine per cent at $185 million and frozen squid at five per cent at $101 million.

Overall production from export-oriented aquaculture during last year was estimated to be 1.33 lakh tonnes, which was a fall by 41,000 tonnes in quantity and Rs 941 crore in value compared to the previous year. Shrimp production showed a decrease by 26 per cent and scampi production by nine per cent over the previous year. Disease outbreaks and natural calamities were reportedly the prime reasons for the shortfall in aquaculture production.