Current status and growth in fish export from India

Fisheries sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to growth and development. Fisheries sector contributes significantly to the national economy while providing livelihood to approximately 14.49 million people in the country. India is the second largest producer of fish in the world contributing about 5.68 per cent of global fish production as per FAO statistics. The country is endowed with a vast expanse of water resources amenable for fisheries and aquaculture. While marine resources are spread in the three oceans encompassing the 8118 km. coastline and an exclusive economic zone of 2.02 million sq.km. Fish production has increased from 7.52 lakh tonnes (5.34 lakh tonnes for marine and 2.18 lakh tonnes for inland fi sheries) in 1950–51 to 95.79 lakh tonnes (34.43 lakh tonnes for marine and 61.36 lakh tonnes for inland fisheries) in 2013–14. The growth of fish sector contributes through its share in GDP and foreign exchange earnings gained through the export of fish and fi shery products. During 2013–14, the volume of fish and fishery products exported from India was 983756 tonnes worth Rs.30213.26 crores and for the first time export earnings have crossed USD 5 billion. The export mainly consist of low value fi n fish verities (32.97%) followed by frozen shrimp (30.64%), frozen cattle fi sh (6.97%), frozen squid (8.88%) and seafood item (6.9%) during the year 2013–14.