Beating the global economic downturn, marine products exports from India increased to Rs 8607.94 crore during 2008-09 even as China emerged the second largest market with exports of the country showing a 15 per cent rise in dollar terms.
India exported 602,000 tonnes of seafood products during 2008-09, showing an increase of 11.29 per cent in quantity and 12.95 per cent in rupee earnings, Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairperson Leena Nair shared.
During the previous year, a quantity of 541,000 lakh tonnes marine products were exported, valued at Rs 7620.92 crore.
The exports in US dollar terms was 1908.63 million, a growth of 0.50 per cent compared to the previous year's 1899.09 million. An important feature of the export trend was the increase in exports to China, which accounted for 15 per cent (in dollar terms) followed by United States' 12 per cent. China climbed to the second place from the third position it held last year, relegating Japan to the third position.
Exports to US has shown a slight increase in quantity and rupee value even though in quantity terms they have fallen further to $227.29 million (-10.8 per cent) relegating it to fourth position, she said.
The European Union remained the largest market for Indian seafood accounting for 151,590 tonnes accounting for 25 per cent in quanity and 32 per cent in rupee terms at Rs 2800 crore and $623 million forming 33 per cent in Dollar terms. However EU share in dollar terms has dipped from 35 per cent to 32.6 per cent during the year.
Exports to South East Asia accounted for 10 per cent from 7.5 per cent in dollar terms during the years. Exports to Middle East also registered a growth, Nair added.
Frozen shrimp continued to be the major item in the export basket accounting for 44 per cent of the total export earnings.Their share in the exports during the period dropped by 8 per cent, 4 per cent and 15 per cent in quantity, Rupee value and dollar value respectively.
Fish, the principal export item in quantity terms and the second largest export item in value, accounted for a share of about 40 per cent in quantity and 20 per cent in export earnings, she said.
Nair also revealed that production of coastal aquaculture came down during 2008-09 with production touching 88,803 tonnes at an estimated value of Rs 1915 crore during the year. The Shrimp production from coastal aquaculture was 75,997 tonnes from the culture area of 108,000 hectares. Compared to the previous year, the decrease is about 28.4 per cent in production and 10.9 per cent in area.
The production of fresh water prawn (Scampi) during the year was 12,806 tonnes from an area of 1,644 hectares showing a reduction of 53 per cent in production and 63 per cent in area utilisation.
The Chairperson said the MPEDA has also taken steps for increasing production from aquaculture, including GIS mapping in farm census and Traceablity.This has begun in Andhra Pradesh. "We are testing the results and would extend to other states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Orissa," she added. Exotic shrimp L Vannamei has also been introduced.
She said Tuna will be another area of sizeable exports from India. The estimated potential of tuna in Indian EEZ is 213,000 tonnes.
To exploit this resource, MPEDA has begun implementing a scheme for converting existing trawlers to tuna long liners. About 1000 vessels will be converted during this plan period to exploit about 90,000 tonnes of tuna.
"So far 225 vessels have been converted," she added.
The export of tuna has increased from Rs 69.31 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 231.38 crore in 2008-09, a growth of 287 per cent.
