Research support for seafood export production

Marine capture fisheries contributed nearly 60-65% of the total fish production during the past decade. Out of the total marine landing of 1.4 million metric tonnes comprising a variety of items, only a few selected species found their way into the export market. During the 1981-85 period, the volume of processed marine products exported from India was in the range of 70,000 to 92,000 tonnes per annum. Among the export items one single item, namely, frozen shrimp constituted the bulk, amounting to more than 60% by volume and 85% by value. The demand for different fishery items already in the export markets and several new items for which India has potential for production is on the increase in the international markets. Mainly on account of production constraints we have however been unable to fully avail ourselves of the favourable market opportunities