Seafood exporters asked to explore new markets amid US tariff hike

New Delhi: The government on Monday asked seafood exporters to “bravely face” the current challenge of high US tariffs and explore alternative markets to ship shrimps and other fish varieties.

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh said alternative markets are available for India’s seafood exports. “The EU, Japan, South Korea, UK, Russia, Australia, West Asia, South East Asia and many countries are available for export of Indian seafoods,” he said.

“We have asked them (exporters) to face the current challenge bravely,” Singh added. The minister emphasised the need for improving value addition and packaging before reaching other markets.

“We have told them that before reaching other markets, there is a need to improve value addition and packing. We have asked to work in this direction,” he noted. Singh also asked exporters to take advantage of the Fishery Infrastructure Development Fund to upgrade and strengthen value-addition, processing and packaging facilities.

To address export concerns, the Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has been asked to meet exporters in four major producing states and help them prepare for new markets.

The minister said MPEDA will help identify specific fish varieties, value addition, and modernising processing and packing infrastructure. “We had a fruitful meeting. Some positive suggestions were made,” the minister said. Singh said: “A few days back, the Prime Minister had clearly said that we will not compromise on the interest of farmers. All exporters said they side with the PM on this issue and accept the challenge and look for new avenues.”

The minister said exporters have made certain suggestions to be included in the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) during the 16th Finance

Commission. Mpost