There will be very little impact on the prices of marine products in India as a result of the Free Trade Agreement signed with Asean countries, the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) said.
Consequently it will have scant impact on the earnings or livelihood of thousands of fishermen in the country.
This is because the negative list covers almost all frozen fish, crustaceans and cephalopods as well as the fillet forms of these fishes. Since it is impossible to import these fishes without freezing them, it implies virtual ban on their imports, sources in the industry said. The total catch of fish from India’s vast coastline has also been stagnating or decreasing over the last few years. Reflecting the falling catch, the volume of some important items in India’s export basket has also dipped in recent times.
The volume of shrimp exports have fallen from 1.37 lakh tonnes in 2006-07 to 1.25 lakh tonnes in 2008-09, frozen fish exports have fallen from 2.70 lakh tonnes to 2.38 lakh tonnes and frozen cuttlefish from 55,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes.
The only saving grace has been frozen squid whose volumes have grown from 47,000 to 57,000 tonnes in the same period. Catches of some of the species like lobsters, pomfrets and ven sardines have also dropped steeply in quantity. Some of the measures suggested for the conservation and preservation of India’s diverse fish species are scientific fishing practices for replenishing of depleted stocks, fishing holidays coupled with increased production from aquaculture and cage culture.
Meanwhile, the demand and price of fish has continued to soar from both the domestic consumers as well as the export trade. of fish and if remedial measures are not initiated, it could lead to a massive shortage of fish in the coming years.
Source : Business Line