Marine exports rise 12% in FY07

The country's marine products exports rose 12 per cent to $1.85 billion in 2006-07 compared with the figures a year ago, according to Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Jairam Ramesh.

The countries belonging to the European Union accounted for 34 per cent of the exports followed by the US and Japan with 16 per cent each, he added. China with 14 per cent also emerged as a major destination for marine products exports from the country, he said. Around 60 per cent of the export earnings from marine products were contributed by frozen shrimp, the minister pointed out.

The Marine Products Export Development Authority was setting up a centre in Andaman and Nicobar for developing disease-free shrimp stocks, he said. Disease in aquaculture shrimp farms was a serious challenge facing the growth of exports from the country, he added.

The centre located in a bio-secure zone plans to supply disease-free stocks to all hatcheries in the country by 2009. The ministry also plans to develop tuna fishing as a diversification strategy to enhance earnings from marine exports.

A meeting of stakeholders in marine exports would be held in Port Blair on July 6 to work out the details for tuna fishing, he added.

Maharashtra, Orissa and Gujarat were selected as focus states to develop aquaculture shrimp and fresh water prawn farming in the coming years, he said.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are the leading states in aquaculture shrimp farming at present.