National seafood export workshop in Visakhapatnam to chart roadmap for ₹1 lakh crore export target

Visakhapatnam: The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, will organise a two-day National Workshop on Seafood Exports in Visakhapatnam on June 5-6.

The workshop aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening India's seafood export ecosystem with a strong focus on value addition, traceability, certification, and export competitiveness. The event comes at a time when India's marine product exports have reached an all-time high of ₹73,890.46 crore (USD 8.45 billion) during 2025-26, with the sector now targeting exports worth ₹1 lakh crore.

The workshop will be attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan, and Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, among other dignitaries.

Senior officials from the Centre, States, and Union Territories, along with representatives from leading institutions including MPEDA, FSSAI, BIS, NFDB, NABARD, NAFED, SFAC, NCDC, NCEL, Invest India, and the Export Inspection Council, are expected to participate. Seafood exporters, processors, start-ups, industry associations, and value-chain stakeholders will also join the discussions.

The first day of the workshop will feature stakeholder consultations and presentations from various ministries and departments on policy initiatives, financial support mechanisms, infrastructure development, export promotion measures, and industry challenges. Benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, and other fisheries initiatives will also be distributed to beneficiaries.

Technical sessions on the second day will focus on boosting seafood exports through value addition, certification, quality assurance, and traceability systems. Discussions will also examine the role of start-ups, MSMEs, and emerging sectors in diversifying export opportunities and strengthening India's position in global seafood markets.

As the host state, Andhra Pradesh continues to play a dominant role in India's fisheries sector. The state recorded aquaculture production of 55.39 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 and remains the country's largest fish-producing and seafood-exporting state. Its extensive coastline, developed aquaculture sector, and modern processing infrastructure have made it a major hub for marine exports.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Andhra Pradesh has received approvals worth ₹2,324.17 crore. Major projects include six Integrated Fish Landing Centres, three modern Fishing Harbours, and an Integrated Aqua Park at Bapatla, representing investments exceeding ₹1,350 crore. Additionally, nine projects valued at ₹259.28 crore have been sanctioned under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

The Centre has also supported the livelihoods of more than four lakh fisheries beneficiaries in the state through PMMSY interventions.

Industry experts believe that despite tariff and non-tariff barriers in several international markets, India's seafood sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Government initiatives such as PMMSY, PMMKSSY, the Blue Revolution Scheme, FIDF, the Export Promotion Mission, and the zero-rated GST regime for exports have strengthened production, infrastructure, and global competitiveness.

The upcoming workshop is expected to generate actionable recommendations for creating a more efficient, technology-driven, and globally competitive seafood export ecosystem, while enhancing opportunities for exporters, aquaculture farmers, processors, start-ups, and MSMEs across the country.