Tamil Nadu plans seafood exports of Rs. 42,745 crore (US$ 5 billion), sets roadmap for blue economy

Tamil Nadu has set an ambitious target of achieving Rs. 42,745 crore (US$ 5 billion) in annual seafood exports, according to the Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Thalikottai Rasuthevar Baalu Rajaa. Despite having the second-longest coastline after Gujarat, Tamil Nadu currently ranks seventh among seafood-exporting states, trailing Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. To reach this goal, the state has outlined a detailed roadmap focused on developing seafood infrastructure, including processing units, cold chains, and export-grade packaging facilities along its coastline. He emphasised that the aim is to move beyond exporting raw catch, focusing instead on adding value within coastal communities to enhance incomes, promote sustainable livelihoods, and strengthen the future of fishing communities.
The announcement coincided with the inaugural National Skill Olympiad on seafood value addition, organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) at the Seafood Expo Bharat in Chennai. This initiative aims to promote value addition and develop a skilled workforce for the sector. India’s seafood exports rose by 3.71% from 1.754 million tonnes in FY23 to 1.819 million tonnes in FY24, with Tamil Nadu contributing approximately 89,001 tonnes, or nearly 5% of the total. In FY24, India exported 2,97,571 tonnes of frozen shrimp to the United States (US), the largest market, followed by China, the European Union, and Southeast Asia. Shrimp constitutes 41% of export volume and 66% of export value, with total frozen shrimp exports worth Rs. 41,719 crore (US$ 4.88 billion) in FY24.

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