Govt Tells Seafood Exporters: Beat US Tariffs, Find New Shores
India urges shrimp exporters to tap untapped global markets.
With the US doubling down on tariffs for Indian seafood, the government is urging exporters to rise to the challenge and aggressively explore untapped global markets. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, addressing the media on Monday, said that Indian shrimp and fish exporters have vast opportunities beyond the US and should waste no time in seizing them. "The EU, Japan, South Korea, UK, Russia, Australia, West Asia, South East Asia — many countries are ready for Indian seafood," Singh said, adding, "Where there is a will, there is a way."
The minister stressed that success in new markets will hinge on value addition and world-class packaging. Exporters have been urged to upgrade their processing and packing standards, making full use of the Fishery Infrastructure Development Fund to modernise their facilities. The Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has been tasked with meeting exporters in four key producing states, helping them pinpoint high-demand fish varieties and enhance processing capabilities for maximum market appeal.
Singh revealed that exporters are already scouting new destinations for their products, encouraged by the government’s assurance of unwavering support for farmers and the wider fisheries sector. During a recent meeting attended by over 50 exporters and state representatives, discussions ranged from boosting value addition to tapping into deep-sea fishing opportunities. Draft guidelines have also been released for fishing in high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones, opening doors for harnessing lucrative species like tuna in Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
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The move comes just days after Washington raised reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to as high as 50%, hitting seafood exports particularly hard. Singh, however, made it clear that this is a time for bold action, not despair. "We have asked them to face this challenge bravely. There are alternative markets available, and exporters have accepted this challenge," he said. For India’s seafood industry, the message is simple — turn the tide, and let the catch find new shores.
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