New Delhi, Apr 11 (BNP): The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying hosted the Seafood Exporters Meet 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together government officials and industry stakeholders to strengthen India’s seafood export ecosystem and address key challenges affecting the sector.

 Pic Credit: Pexel

The meeting, attended by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, focused on strategies to scale up exports, improve compliance standards, and expand India’s presence in global seafood markets amid shifting international trade conditions.

The minister highlighted that India’s seafood exports have continued to grow steadily despite global uncertainties, with strong performance in non-US markets. He stressed the need to further diversify export destinations, enhance product quality, and ensure strict compliance with global safety norms, including traceability systems and antibiotic regulations.

A key emphasis was placed on tapping high-value opportunities in deep-sea fishing and island-based fisheries, particularly in regions such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The government also called for stronger cold-chain logistics, modern packaging, and increased value-added processing to reduce wastage and improve export competitiveness.

Officials outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen international outreach by working closely with Indian missions abroad and global trade partners. Institutions such as MPEDA, NABARD, and EIC are expected to play a larger role in capacity building, compliance support, and export facilitation.

Industry stakeholders raised concerns over high compliance costs, infrastructure gaps, tariff and non-tariff barriers, and delays in certification processes. They also called for greater support to inland fisheries, mariculture, and emerging sectors such as seaweed cultivation.

The meeting reflected a broader push to reposition India’s seafood sector as a high-value, globally competitive industry driven by innovation, diversification, and stronger global integration.