In a relief for India’s seafood exporters grappling with steep US tariffs, the European Union (EU) has approved 102 additional fishery units for shipments, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said on Thursday.
With this, the total number of Indian establishments authorised to export seafood to the EU has risen to 604, a move expected to cushion the impact of US duties of over 59% on shrimp and help Indian exporters tap deeper into Europe.
“The limitation in the number of EU-approved fishery establishments was a major impediment for our seafood exports to the EU. This development will open up greater opportunities,” said D V Swamy, Chairman, MPEDA.
The EU is India’s third-largest seafood export destination after China, accounting for 15.1% of shipments. Exports to the bloc stood at $1.12 billion (₹9,429.56 crore) in FY25, with Belgium, Spain, and Italy among the top buyers. Frozen shrimp, cuttlefish, and squid were the leading export items.
The move also comes ahead of the India–EFTA trade pact taking effect on October 1, 2025, which is expected to expand access to Norway and Switzerland.
India’s seafood exports touched $7.45 billion (₹62,408 crore) in FY25, with the US alone accounting for $2.8 billion, or 35%. However, shipments to America are likely to dip 15–18% this fiscal, according to Crisil Ratings, due to punitive duties.
To tap Europe’s $67.8 billion seafood import market—where India’s share is just 1.5%—MPEDA is pushing initiatives such as farm enrolment, residue monitoring, pre-harvest testing, and stricter adherence to HACCP protocols to ensure quality and traceability.