India considers PLI scheme for seafood sector to increase value-added exports

The Department of Fisheries is exploring a dedicated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for MSMEs in the seafood sector to improve international competitiveness, strengthen export-oriented infrastructure, encourage technology adoption, support research and development, and promote value addition. A high-level joint meeting between Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, and Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, was held today to deliberate on a roadmap to accelerate growth of India’s seafood sector. The meeting attended by senior officials from the Department of Commerce, Department of Fisheries, MPFI, DPIIT, MPEDA and EIC called for an alignment of export promotion activities with the objectives of the PMMSY and allied schemes.

The proposed framework aims to substantially increase the share of value-added seafood products in India’s total seafood exports and expand the number of seafood exporters from around 1,200 presently to 5,000 in the coming years. The initiative aims to improve export realization and strengthen India’s position in global seafood value chains.

Special emphasis will be placed on developing the tuna sector, particularly in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Focused interventions will be undertaken to promote sustainable harvesting, processing, branding and export of tuna and other high-value marine products.

The Department of Fisheries and MPEDA will also jointly organise trade and business delegations to major international markets to expand market access, strengthen trade partnerships and promote Indian seafood globally. MPEDA and NFDB will undertake a comprehensive assessment of export potential and infrastructure gaps across States and Union Territories, including inland regions, to facilitate wider participation in the seafood export ecosystem.

The meeting highlighted the need for an integrated approach towards addressing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues in aquaculture and capture fisheries. Efforts will be undertaken to strengthen traceability, quality assurance systems, disease-free zones and compliance with international food safety standards from the primary production stage onwards. Possibilities for GI tagging of seafood species and products will also be explored.

Laboratory infrastructure across States and Union Territories will be upgraded to strengthen testing, certification and export compliance capabilities, with special focus on Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

A two-day “Chintan Shivir” will be jointly organized by the Ministries of Commerce and Industry and the Fisheries on 5th and 6th June at Visakhapatnam to work on ways to increase value-added exports from India's seafood sector. The Shivir will also involve the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), State fisheries departments, seafood exporters, startups, fishers, farmers and other industry stakeholders.