India is stepping up efforts to expand its footprint in value-added seafood exports, exploring into its vast marine resources with a renewed focus on diversification, compliance, and infrastructure upgrades. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh underscored the importance of exploring new markets and strengthening regulatory systems to sustain the sector’s growth momentum.India’s seafood exports have shown steady expansion, registering an average annual growth of around 7 per cent over the past 11 years. Marine product exports have more than doubled during this period, rising from Rs 30,213 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 62,408 crore in 2024–25, largely driven by shrimp exports valued at ₹43,334 crore.

Speaking at the ‘Seafood Exporters Meet 2026’, Singh lauded exporters for their role in driving growth and called for continued innovation to strengthen India’s global positioning in the sector. Referring to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, he said the framework is being operationalised through Access Passes, with priority given to cooperative societies to ensure inclusive growth. The minister also highlighted the significant export potential of high-value species such as tuna from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as from the EEZ and high seas. He emphasised the need for better onboard handling, robust cold-chain infrastructure, improved packaging, and increased value addition to minimise post-harvest losses and enhance competitiveness. Exporters were urged to diversify markets and work towards achieving the ambitious Rs 1 lakh crore export target, with assurances of support from institutions such as the Export Inspection Council (EIC), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian said that following the post-Budget webinar 2026, coordinated efforts are underway to position fisheries as a high-value, high-demand sector. He stressed that sustaining export growth will depend on strict adherence to regulatory norms, including antibiotic bans, traceability systems, certifications, and improved logistics and value-chain development. Industry stakeholders welcomed the government’s proactive approach while highlighting key challenges and opportunities. These include streamlining procedures for issuing Catch Certificates, facilitating permits for seaweed cultivation such as Kappaphycus in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and extending targeted support to fish-meal manufacturers to scale up production of high-quality fish feed. With a strong policy push and rising global demand, India’s seafood sector is poised to move up the value chain, unlocking new opportunities across international markets while strengthening the domestic marine economy.