Braving the choppy waters the sector faced globally, seafood exporters in Naduhad a decent haul in the first seven months of this fiscal. They earned $758 million in exports, nearly 80% of the $973 million export target set for 2021-22 by the Centre.
This despite the Covid-inflicted troubles that had hit production, the steep increase in freight cost, the non-availability of refrigerated containers on time due to cartelisation by shipping lines, not to mention China conducting nucleic tests on seafood imports from India.
Its a labour-intensive Industry, employing mostly Women the 40-odd seafood exporters in Tamil Nadu employ more than 30,000 people. But despite a 1,076km coastline, Tamil Nadu accounts for a mere 15% of the total $7.8 billion Indian seafood exports targeted for this fiscal.
Tamil Nadu is proactive. It has identified seafood exports as one of the champion sectors for boosting exports and helping the state achieve its $1 trillion economy target by 2030. We made a detailed presentation to finance ministerPalanivel Thiaga Rajan. He and Fisheries ministerAnitha Radhakrishnanhave promised all support for us, says K V V Mohanan, Tamil Nadu president of the Indian Seafood Exporters Association.
Tamil Nadus 15% share of seafood exports includes transfers fromAndhra Pradeshthrough the Chennai port. Aquaculture (mostly shrimp) contributes almost 70% of the export kitty, with capture fisheries accounting for the rest. Aquaculture production in TN has been dropping for the last few years, while other states such as Andhra Pradesh have upped output. The hatcheries sector, which originated in Chennai, has fallen victim to extortion by anti-socials with political support. As a result, the industry went virtually into hibernation over the past 10 years in the state, the industry delegation told the ministers.