Overall reduction in marine fish catch brings down Karnataka’s share in seafood exports

Notwithstanding a steady increase in the volume of seafood (marine products) exports from the country in the past few years, the share of Karnataka has reduced slightly, by 0.249 lakh tonnes between 2022-23 and 2023-24. This is in line with the overall decline in marine fish production in the State during the period.

Notwithstanding a steady increase in the volume of seafood (marine products) exports from the country in the past few years, the share of Karnataka has reduced slightly, by 0.249 lakh tonnes between 2022-23 and 2023-24. This is in line with the overall decline in marine fish production in the State during the period.

The share of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal has increased by 0.402, 0.517, and 0.246 lakh tonnes, respectively. Kerala’s share, however, has decreased by 0.229 lakh tonnes during the period.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in response to questions by Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Mr. Poojary, among other things, had asked whether the government was adopting a new strategy to boost seafood exports, especially in the light of the global pandemic.

Mr. Prasada said the Budget 2024-25 has announced reduction of basic customs duty on various key aquaculture ingredients/inputs (used for prawn/shrimp feed or fish feed), including reduction of duty from 15% to nil on fish lipid oil, and algal prime (flour), 5% to nil on Krill meal, 30% to nil on crude fish oil, and 5% to nil on mineral and vitamin premixes to make Indian seafood-based value-added products competitive in International markets. He further said the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products rates have also been increased from 2.5% to 3.1% for various seafood products and maximum value cap per kg was increased to ₹69.

The Minister said the government through Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has undertaken several steps to boost marine products export. They include participation in International trade fairs, organising buyer-seller meets, reverse buyer seller meets, and providing financial support for processing and exporting seafood based value-added products.

Mr. Prasada said seafood exports from India has increased from US$ 5957.37 million in 2020-21 to US$ 7372.00 million in 2023-24 registering a growth of 23.74%. Exports are continuing as the sailings of containers carrying ships from India have been diverted via the Cape of Good Hope route. Despite the challenges, the seafood exports increased in quantity terms from 17.54 lakh tonne in 2022-23 to 18.19 lakh tonne in 2023-24, registering a growth of 3.73%.

Fishermen in coastal Karnataka have reported a steep decline in fish catch the previous fishing season. While the total marine fish production stood at 7.3 lakh tonne in 2022-23, it declined to 5.4 lakh tonne in 2023-24. There are 4,767 mechanised, 11,250 motorised, and 8,793 traditional fishing boats. The coast also has 10 deep sea fishing vessels.