The growth of Indian exports to the Chinese market has been unprecedented and in less than five years it accounts for 14% of the total volume of exports. Currently, it occupies the fourth slot after the European Union (34%), the US (16%) and Japan (16%). The US market has been flat for some years and the growth has largely come from Europe and China. The Japanese interest in Indian seafood, which was on the wane for some years, has also seen a positive flip in the last fiscal.

Marine products exports from the nation registered a growth of 12% in dollar terms to touch $1.85 billion in 2006-07, up from $1.64 billion in 2005-06. Frozen shrimp continues to occupy the major share of Indian exports with 55% of the value. Frozen finfish (17%), cuttle fish (9%), and squid (7%) follow.

Indian shrimp export is facing challenges in the form of anti-dumping duties and diseases, MPEDA sources said. To overcome the problem of diseases, MPEDA has embarked on an ambitious project to rear pathogen-free broodstock in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The islands have been found to be a bio-secure zone and MPEDA hopes to supply all hatcheries in the nation with stocks from Andaman. The island has also been identified as a potential fishing zone for tuna and could emerge as a major centre for tuna landing in the future.

The authority also has plans to produce the feed for aquaculture farms in Tuticorin. Presently the feed ‘Artemia’ is imported from the US.