Marine products industry alone has a share of at least 6 per cent in world exports in which India is the fourth largest exporting country after China, Peru and Japan. In 2019-20, India exported 12, 89,651 MT of seafood worth Rs 46,662.85 crore (US$ 6.68 billion), marking a decline of 6.31 per cent in rupee terms and 10.81 per cent in dollar value in 2020-21.

Crustaceans accounted for 427,493 tons in 2016 and 464,924 tons in 2017. The remaining export volume is dominated by marine fish (mackerel, tuna and some other species) and mollusks (cuttlefish and squid), which take account for respectively 268,437 and 178,810 tons in 2016 and 274,816 and 149,609 tons in 2017.

Top exporting countries of marine products:

 
·         USA ($5.1 Billion USD)
·         India ($4.6 Billion USD)
·         Canada ($4.2 Billion USD)
·         Chile ($4.0 Billion USD)
·         Sweden ($3.7 Billion USD)
·         The Netherlands ($3.13 Billion USD)
·         Indonesia ($3.11 Billion USD) 
 
Top importing countries of marine products:
·      USA (2, 72,041 MT)
·      China (1, 01,846 MT)
·      EU (70,133 MT)
·      Japan (40,502 MT)
·      South East Asia (38,389 MT)
·      Middle East (29,108 MT)

Undoubtedly marine sector is identified as a sunrise sector under the Special Focus Initiative of the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India. The global trade environment has undergone a drastic change after the implementation of World Trade Organization- General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO-GATS).

Exporting of Marine Products Mainly Covers:

·         FROZEN SHRIMP
·         FR CUTTLE FISH
·          FR SQUID
·         DRIED ITEM
·         LIVE ITEMS
·         CHILLED ITEMS

 
India is a major exporter of fish with the fish export business bringing in over 476 billion INR in 2020. Overall the fish export business in India is the fourth largest in the world. The Indian government is doing all it can to promote the export of fish from India and grow India’s stature as a seafood exporter. This article will look at the fish export business in India, and how exporters can sell packaged fish legally to foreign nations.

Documents Required to Export Marine Products from India:

      1.      Directorate General of Foreign Trade registration
2.      Importer Exporter code
3.      Shipping bill
4.      Bill of export
5.      Business Identification Number from the Customs department
6.      Bill of lading
7.      Export General Manifest
8.      Commercial invoice
9.      Packing list
10.   Certificate of origin from the MPEDA
11.   Health certificate from the Export Inspection Agency 
12.   Catch certificates from the MPEDA 
13.   Registration Cum Membership Certificate through the MPEDA
14.   Certificate of Incorporation of the business
15.   Valid ID and address proof of the applicant along with two passport-sized

Andhra Pradesh is the top marine exporting state in India with an impressive CAGR (Compound annual growth rate) of 15%, followed by Gujarat and West Bengal with almost a CAGR of 10%, roughly at par with the country's overall growth. Other contributing states are Kerala and Maharashtra.

Major Ports for Exporting Marine Products in India:

·         Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust – Nhava Sheva (JNPT) Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

·         Port of Mundra. Kutch, Gujarat

·         Port of Chennai

·         Port of Kolkata – Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (KoPT)

·         V. O. Chidambaranar Port (VOCP)

·         Port of Kandla (Deendayal Port Trust)

·         Port of Mumbai

·         Port of Vishakapatnam