Ornamental fish exports rise 20% in six months

Export of ornamental fish is gradually picking up and has registered a 20 per cent rise to 36 tonne in April-September 2005, from 30 tonne in the same period last year.

Despite the segment being under the burden of high freight charge in India, earnings from exports of Indian ornamental fish have touched Rs 2.68 crore in the six-month period.

Last year, earnings during the same period stood at Rs 2.23 crore, according to a Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) official.

Further, India had, in 2004-05, exported 55 tonne of ornamental fish, versus 45 tonne in 2003-04, said the MPEDA official. For Indian ornamental fish, south-east and the Middle East are the export markets.

Botia, Barb, Catfish, Puffers, Angel fish and Mollies are the varieties that are exported from India. For these types of fish, major breeding centres are located in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, these metros being major export points.

"Leading ornamental fish-producing countries have been giving freight subsidy to boost exports, while the freight charge in India is double that of Singapore, Indonesia and Malasya. To export ornamental fish to Europe, Indian exporters are required pay Rs 300 per kg as freight charge, and carriers insist on 100 kg as the minimum quantity. So, most of the exports are limited to Singapore only, from where the same ornamental fish are shipped to other destinations in Europe and the US at minimal charges," a Mumbai-based exporter Mehmood Syed said.

Singapore is the world's leading exporter of ornamental fish and currently holds almost 25 per cent share of the total global ornamental fish trade. Indonesia, Malaysia, China are the other leading exporters. India exports just a miniscule of a whopping $500 million worldwide ornamental fish business.

Currently, the domestic market remains the major consumer of Indian ornamental fish. However, the aquarium fish industry has become a notable foreign exchange earner.

International trade of aquatic organisms for ornamental purposes are increasing at an annual rate of 14 per cent. The major buyers of ornamental fish are France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the US.

Out of the 800 varieties of freshwater ornamental fishes, 200 including 100 indigenous varieties are available in India and can be grown in captivity. Ninety five per cent of our ornamental fish export is based on wild collection.