Karnataka has slipped one notch to third place among states exporting marine products.
According to data submitted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the Lok Sabha, the state’s export volume dipped from 2.984 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 2.735 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
The decline in marine products is attributed to drought and increase in sea temperature. Two other coastal states Goa and Kerala have seen a similar decline.
However, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, the top two, have bucked the trend by taking up commercial farming of marine shrimp in a big way.
Andhra Pradesh exported 3.870 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 and 4.272 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
Gujarat, previously placed third, climbed one place with exports rising from 2.934 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 3.451 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
India’s seafood exports hit an all-time of 18.19 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 against 17.54 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
Around 70 per cent of frozen shrimp came from shrimp farming (raising shrimp in freshwater or marine environments) spread over 71,921 hectares in Andhra Pradesh, according to sources in Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). In Karnataka, aquaculture production is limited to 970.39 hectares.
Frozen shrimp continued to be the major item of export in terms of quantity and value, accounting for a share of 40.19 per cent in quantity and 66.12 per cent of the total earnings. Frozen shrimp exports during the period increased by 0.69 per cent, from 7,11,099 tonnes to 7,16,004 tonnes.
Karnataka’s marine fish production in 2023-24 was 5,42,675 tonnes, a dip by 25 per cent when compared to marine fish production in 2022-23 (7,30,104 tonnes).
“Drought and increase in sea temperature resulted in poor catch,” Department of Fisheries Director Dinesh Kallar said. Well known fisheries economist Dr Ramachandra Bhatta stressed that lack of rainfall in May-June had affected breeding activities. Thus, dip in marine fish production had contributed to dip in volume of marine products.
Export volume
Karnataka
2022-23: 2.984 lakh tonnes
2023-24: 2.735 lakh tonnes
Andhra Pradesh
2022-23: 3.870 lakh tonnes
2023-24: 4.272 lakh tonnes
Gujarat
2022-23: 2.934 lakh tonnes
2023-24: 3.451 lakh tonnes
Volume vs value Despite dip in volume Karnataka’s value in exports increased from Rs 4737.22 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 4785.04 crore in 2023-24.
However, the value of overall exports declined from Rs 63969.14 crore in 2022-23 to 60523.89 crore in 2023-24 due to inflation in the USA, EU, and UK markets.
Competitive rates due to oversupply of shrimp from competitor countries like Ecuador also were the key reasons for the decline according to sources in Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
