New Delhi : The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying organised the Seafood Exporters Meet 2026 at Ambedkar Bhawan, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and exporters to deliberate on strengthening India’s seafood export ecosystem.
The event was chaired by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, along with Ministers of State S. P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian. The meet served as a structured platform for dialogue between the government and stakeholders, focusing on key challenges such as market access, pricing pressures, compliance requirements, and strategies for enhancing value addition, diversification, and expansion of marine exports from islands, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and high seas.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh commended exporters for sustaining growth despite global uncertainties, noting that India’s seafood exports have remained robust, particularly in non-US markets. He emphasised the need for continued market and product diversification, strict adherence to regulatory standards such as antibiotic restrictions, and strengthening of traceability systems. Highlighting the operationalisation of EEZ Rules through access passes, he said priority would be given to cooperative societies to promote inclusive development.
The Minister also underlined the immense export potential of high-value species such as tuna from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, EEZ, and high seas. He called for improved onboard handling, stronger cold-chain infrastructure, better packaging, and increased value addition to reduce post-harvest losses and boost competitiveness. Exporters were encouraged to work towards the ₹1 lakh crore export target and adopt an open-market approach, with institutional support from bodies such as 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 George Kurian highlighted that, in line with the post-Budget webinar 2026, efforts are being intensified to position fisheries as a high-value, high-demand sector. He stressed that sustained export growth would depend on strong compliance frameworks, improved logistics, and development of value chains.
Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, outlined a focused market diversification strategy being implemented in coordination with the Marine Products Export Development Authority, EIC, and the Department of Commerce. He noted that diplomatic outreach to ambassadors from nearly 40 countries has generated positive responses and emphasised the need to promote value-added seafood products such as ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook items. The Department also plans to facilitate direct linkages between exporters and Indian Missions abroad, while urging MPEDA to strengthen capacity-building initiatives.
During the discussions, stakeholders appreciated the government’s proactive support and highlighted key issues, including the need to streamline procedures for issuing catch certificates, facilitate permits for seaweed cultivation (Kappaphycus) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and provide targeted support for fish-meal manufacturers to scale up production of high-quality feed. They also pointed to the untapped export potential in inland fisheries and mariculture along the western coast.
Participants further raised broader challenges impacting seafood exports, such as limited market access due to tariff and non-tariff barriers, high compliance costs, gaps in value-added processing capacity, cold-chain and logistics constraints, and the need for stronger traceability and quality assurance systems.
The meeting witnessed participation from key organisations including National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), NABARD, NCDC, National Cooperative Exports Limited, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, along with representatives from export associations and leading industry players. Senior officials from the Department of Fisheries and state fisheries departments, including those from Odisha, Gujarat, Goa, and island territories, also attended the event.
The Seafood Exporters Meet 2026 underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s seafood export sector through collaborative efforts, policy support, and a strategic focus on diversification, value addition, and global competitiveness.