India Wants A Shift From Shrimp To Tuna ff

The Indian foreign trade policy did not spell out any measures for import of suitable tuna fishing vessels. An estimated 40 are needed in order to meet the Center’s objective of incentivising a large-scale shift from shrimp to tuna catching.

However, the package spelt out to tsunami-affected marine sector will go some way toward boosting export of the country’s marine products from Rs 6,000 crore — where it has been stagnating for few years — to Rs 10,000 crore per annum.

The package proposes to allow import of the monofilament long-line system for tuna fishing at a concessional rate of duty. “This will encourage the existing mechanized vessels and deep-sea trawlers to adopt modern technology for scientific exploitation of our marine resources in an eco-friendly manner, which in turn will boost marine exports,” Nath said.

According to Chairman of the marine promotion export development authority (MPEDA) G Mohan Kumar, tuna fishing in the country was poised to register a significant increase after the government's move. “This is an unexploited source - this can become the thrust area of our exports,” he said.

The policy also proposes duty-free import of specified specialized inputs, chemicals and flavoring oils to the extent of 1 per cent of FOB value of preceding financial years’ exports. “This will go a long way towards helping exporters to achieve a higher value-additions and enter new export markets,” said Kumar.

Recognizing that the present system of allowing disposal of waste and perishable commodities like seafood only after inspection by a Customs official was cumbersome, often leading to unhygienic conditions, the policy has said that a self-removal procedure for clearance of waste will be put in place.

Exporters said this self-removal procedure would bring down procedural costs and help streamline the value-added process.

The government has exports to the US, Japan and the EU in its sights, particularly after shrimp exports to these countries faced trouble of late and has left the marine sector with no option but to switch to the tuna market. Accordingly, the marine package is expected to be notified in time to be accommodated in the finance bill next month.

Marine product exports have grown steadily over the years, due to desiccated and dried products in earlier decades and canned and frozen marine product exports later. More recently, frozen products have formed key exports.

With shrimp exports facing problems in key importing countries, MPEDA has been lobbying to boost tuna fishing as the new manna from the deep seas and offered support schemes for conversion of shrimp vessels to tuna vessels. Though Indian exporters ventured into tuna fishing in 1980s, the country is yet to make a dent on export market.