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Fish exports fall by 19 per cent

KOCHI: India’s fish exports slumped by 19.29 per cent to 3,92,939 tonnes during April-December period of the current fiscal as against 4,86,895 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, mainly due to poor harvest on the eastern and western coasts, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said.

In value terms, exports accounted for Rs.5,701.42 crore during first nine-months of the current fiscal ended December 31, as against Rs.6,659.22 crore in the corresponding period last year, according to MPEDA chairman G. Mohan Kumar .

He attributed the downfall in exports to “poor fish landing” on the eastern and western coasts.

Interestingly, exports of tuna fish rose by 44.3 per cent, he said adding that the steps taken by the MPEDA had boosted tuna exports. More processing units had begun operations, giving a fillip to value-added products.

“It is gratifying to note that the EU [European Union] and South East Asian countries have started buying tuna fish in large quantities,” he said.

The government body is also planning to depute a delegation to West Asia to explore the possibilities of joint ventures in tuna fishing and export, he added.

The MPEDA plans to focus on exploitation of tuna resources as well as value-added products.

It would also participate in the Boston Seafood Show from February 24-26 and the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels scheduled from April 22-24, he said.

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