India Targets USD 30 Billion Seafood Exports in Five Years, National Workshop Charts Growth Strategy
Antara Tripathy | Visakhapatnam | June 9, 2026
India is preparing an ambitious roadmap to increase its seafood exports to USD 30 billion over the next five years, with policymakers and industry leaders emphasizing value addition, sustainable practices, improved infrastructure and wider global market access. The vision was outlined during a two-day National Workshop on Seafood Exports held in Visakhapatnam on June 5 and 6.
Organised jointly by the Department of Commerce, the Department of Fisheries, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the workshop brought together government officials, exporters, processors, researchers, startups, financial institutions and aquaculture stakeholders to discuss strategies for enhancing India’s competitiveness in the global seafood market.
Marine Exports Record Strong Growth
Addressing the inaugural session, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India’s marine product exports have grown by nearly 70 percent in value during the past decade, while the country now accounts for approximately 4 percent of global seafood trade.
He urged industry stakeholders to work collectively towards achieving the USD 30 billion export target by focusing on higher value-added products, stronger branding, better quality standards, sustainability and expansion into new international markets.
The minister also highlighted opportunities created by India’s recently concluded Free Trade Agreements covering 38 countries, encouraging exporters to leverage these agreements to expand overseas business. He stressed that India should position itself as a reliable global supplier of premium and sustainable seafood products.
Andhra Pradesh Aims to Become Global Seafood Hub
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening its leadership in fisheries and aquaculture. He said Andhra Pradesh would continue investing in innovation, infrastructure and branding to establish itself as a global centre for sustainable seafood production and exports.
Fisheries Production Nearly Doubles
Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh noted that India’s fish production has increased from 95.8 lakh tonnes in 2012-13 to nearly 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, reflecting significant expansion in the sector.
He stated that despite global economic challenges, India’s seafood exports reached around ₹73,890 crore (USD 8.46 billion), with frozen shrimp remaining the country’s leading export product. Government initiatives under PMMSY and PMKSSY 2.0, he added, are helping strengthen export-oriented infrastructure, traceability systems, value addition and sustainable aquaculture.
Better Logistics Key to Export Competitiveness
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu highlighted the importance of efficient logistics and air cargo infrastructure for transporting high-value seafood products. He said efforts are underway to improve cargo facilities, multimodal connectivity and supply chain efficiency to enhance India’s export competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan stressed that the seafood industry must shift its focus from merely increasing production volumes to creating greater value through processing, branding, technology adoption and market diversification.
Industry Highlights Challenges and Opportunities
The workshop featured extensive discussions on challenges facing the fisheries sector, including disease management, rising input costs, availability of fishmeal, access to quality seed and broodstock, quarantine infrastructure, logistics, cold-chain development, certification requirements and sustainability standards.
Participants also called for greater support to startups and MSMEs, expansion of value-added seafood products and diversification of export destinations to reduce market dependence.
Technical Sessions Focus on Future Growth
The second day included technical deliberations on traceability systems, sustainable certification, export promotion, deep-sea fisheries and the possibility of introducing a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) framework for the seafood sector.
Experts also explored opportunities in India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone, particularly around the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, while identifying emerging sectors such as seaweed cultivation, ornamental fisheries, cold-water fisheries and trout farming as future growth areas.
The workshop concluded with a consensus on strengthening sustainability, traceability, value addition, cold-chain infrastructure and market access while promoting innovation and entrepreneurship across the seafood value chain. The recommendations are expected to contribute to a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing India’s global seafood exports and supporting the country’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
