The EP (MP) Desk contributes towards policy formulation of exports of Marine Products and also facilitating and promoting exports of Marine and allied / processed products. The Desk exercises administrative control over the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), which is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, entrusted with the overall development, promotion and export of fish and fishery products from the country.

• Shri Diwakar Nath Mishra : Joint Secretary
• Shri Steephen L : Deputy Secretary
• Ms. Nidhi Pandey : Section Officer

India has exported 12, 89,651 MT of Seafood worth US$ 6.68 Billion in 2019-20. USA and China are the major importers of Indian seafood. India’s seafood exports have improved in rupee term by 0.16%, however the quantity and US dollar value has declined by 7.39% and 0.74% respectively.

The major market with share of exports and growth percentage are given in the following table:

As the world shrimp market witnessed an increased supply of farmed shrimp of Asian origin, the markets such as USA, South East Asia and Japan witnessed higher shrimp inventories. This situation has brought down the export prices as the demand lagged. The importers were also prompted to offer discounts at retail level to push forward the inventories.

The increased production of shrimp in South East Asian countries has also affected Indian shrimp exports to South East Asian region. The routing of shrimps to China through Vietnam has got decimated, and instead the export of seafood, especially shrimps, directly from India to China has increased remarkably. India’s exports to EU is affected by the spate of past rejections due to antibiotic residues and the consequent delisting of certain establishments.

MPEDA envisages export of marine products worth USD 7.0 billion during the year 2020-21. Quality control measures and increase in infrastructure facilities for production of value added items are expected to help in achieving this target. India occupies the following position in production and export;

• 3rd largest producer in capture fisheries (5.4 Million Tonnes).
• 2nd largest producer in aquaculture fisheries (6.2 Million Tonnes).
• 5th largest exporter of fish and fishery products in the world (USD 6.6 Billion).
• India accounts for 4.1% share in world seafood exports.

• Established online Catch & ICCAT certification System to facilitate export to EU and other markets.
• Conducting National Residue Control Monitoring program (NRCP) with respect to aquaculture shrimp for facilitating exports to EU.
• Initiated online validation of DS 2031 certificates for shrimps to facilitate export to USA.
• Issuing various country of origin certificates to facilitate exports.
• Registering and monitoring various entities involved in the export of Seafood from the country.
• Providing financial assistance to exporters for setting up Processing Plants, Storages, and Handling Centers etc. as per the approved schemes.
• Intensified branding of Indian Seafood abroad through participation in International Seafood Trade fairs in major Seafood markets such as USA, EU, Japan, China, Middle East etc. Organized participation of Indian Seafood Exporters in International trade fairs organized in prospective markets such as Thailand, Singapore, South Africa, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Russian Federation and South Korea. The participation in International Fairs also generated valuable trade enquiries, which were circulated to the trade.
• Organized Trade Delegations to Japan, South Korea, Russia, China etc. and participated in other delegation visits to Vietnam, South Africa etc for increasing market access and enhanced market service.
• Increased Aquaculture Production of residue free shrimp by expanding the area under culture.
• Diversification of aquaculture through demonstration of technology developed by RGCA for the export oriented species.
• Commissioning of Multi Species Aquaculture Complex at Kochi in December 2018 for producing disease free seeds of Tiger Shrimp, Cobia, Seabass, Mud Crab etc., for supplying to the farmers in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and entire Konkan belt.
• Commissioning of the Nucleus Breeding Centre of Domestication of Tiger Shrimp Project and commencement of Multispecies Grouper Hatchery at Andaman on 28th February, 2014.
• Commencement of Broodstock Multiplication Centre of RGCA at Kanyakumari on 28th February, 2014.
• Sate-wise initiatives to diversify the aquaculture have been taken; some of these initiatives are:-

a) Introduction of cage culture & Satellite breeding centers for Tilapia fish, setting up hatchery for sea bass & mud crab, Broodstock multiplication center at Vizag and promoting mangrove mud crab farming in Andhra Pradesh.
b) MPEDA in collaboration with government of Maharashtra has planned to set up a Mud crab hatchery at Sindudurg for the Konkan fisheries development.

• Organized stakeholder meetings to sensitize them on US Seafood Import Monitoring Programme (SIMP). Facilitated the visit of US Department of State officials to observe shrimp harvesting system in India for certification under Sec 609 of US Public Law.
• Organized 8 hands on training workshops on seafood value addition for 159 processing workers across maritime states with the help of national and international experts.
• Organized brainstorming sessions for the State Fisheries Departments on first mile connectivity gaps in Capture fisheries.
• Organized training programmes for seafood processing workers under Pradhan Manthri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to cover 6000 workers.
• Total 56,031 catch certificates were validated to facilitate export of sea caught items to various markets including EU under the regulations on traceability and origin.
• 58,928 DS 2031 certificates were issued towards the export of shrimps to the US, Canada and third country markets.
• Supported the certification of Short neck clam fishery of Ashtamudi lake in Kollam district, Kerala, the first fishery to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, an international agency of certification.
• Organized 17 tuna long line training programmes for fishermen of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh to equip them to catch tuna fish by long line technique and to improve the handling and preservation of the fish on board fishing vessel in order to improve the quality and price realization.
• Through relentless efforts secured a reduction in the import inspection of Black tiger shrimp consignments in Japan for antibiotics, in 2020.
• Organized 3 editions of India International Seafood Show along with Seafood Exporters Association of India and 2 editions of Aqua Aquaria India, aquaculture show.
• Established microbiology –cum – molecular biology laboratory at Kochi to test seafood samples.
• Established new Quality Control laboratory at Porbandar in Gujarat to test fish and fishery products, in 2020.

The details of MPEDA Act, Rules & Regulations 1972, may be seen on the MPEDA’s website on the link : https://mpeda.gov.in/MPEDA/act_rule.php#