KN Raghavan, Secretary General, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) inaugurating a fisheries round-table at CMFRI.
Fisheries experts have underlined the need for revamping Kerala’s aquaculture sector with swift action, modernisation and sustainable growth strategies.
A round-table at CMFRI brought together key stakeholders under the theme: “Re-assessing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector with a Focus on Kerala and the Newer Challenges in National and International Marketing.”
It was organised by the VIS Group as a prelude to the International Fisheries Tech Expo 2025, scheduled for June 12-13 in Mumbai.
Panelists agreed that while Kerala was historically the nerve centre of India’s seafood exports, changing dynamics in aquaculture and international policies have sidelined the state.
“Kerala was once the capital of seafood exports. But today, its processing units lie idle,” said K. N. Raghavan, Secretary General, Seafood Exporters Association of India. He emphasised the urgent need for policy review, particularly in promoting aquaculture. “A strategic shift is needed—both in policy and perception—to arrest the decline. Climate change, juvenile fishing, and trade restrictions are depleting our sea resources. We need long-term, scientific solutions.”
MPEDA report
He cautioned that without decisive action, Kerala may fall further behind as Andhra Pradesh and other coastal states surge ahead.
Anwar Hashim, Managing Director of ABAD Fisheries Pvt. Ltd, said that overfishing, juvenile fishing, bottom trawling, pollution, and climate change are choking the ocean. The way forward is to reduce fishing pressure, stop bottom trawling, and start large-scale aquaculture—especially along Kerala’s coast.
A report presented by Marine Products Export Development Authority said that the state contributed 6.33 lakh tonnes to India’s marine fish production in 2023-24, securing the second position nationally and accounting for nearly 18 per cent of total landings. When it comes to aquaculture shrimp, Kerala lags behind with a modest output of 2571 tonnes, dwarfed by Andhra Pradesh’s 9.64 lakh tonnes.
Kerala’s contribution
On the export front, Kerala’s seafood exports reached $882 million (₹7231.84 crore) in 2023-24, making up 11.9 per cent of India’s total seafood export value. However, Andhra Pradesh dominated the national tally with exports worth $2.36 billion.
As momentum builds for the International Fisheries Tech Expo 2025, the Kochi meet is a crucial moment of reckoning for Kerala’s seafood sector, Grinson George, Director, CMFRI, said adding that the state must build on its scientific infrastructure to lead in sustainable fisheries.
J.P. Nair, Managing Director, VIS Group highlighted that the round-table is aimed to bridge policy discussions and ground-level realities ahead of the Mumbai Expo. This initiative is a step towards unlocking the full potential of India’s fisheries through innovation, collaboration, and investment.
Published on May 2, 2025
