Access to few markets make Indian exports susceptible to negative consequences of trade barriers imposed by importing countries. According to FOA India is a medium-level fish producing country whose fish production is about 4 percent of the world capture and 5 percent of the world volume and value in aquaculture.
According to a study India’s volume of exported marine products has increased 4.6 time over 16 years and the unit value rose by 2.5 times, implying that Indian fishery exports still occupy a low value segment in the global fish trade. In 1997 the European Commission slapped a ban on Indian marine products giving hygienic conditions and was lifted after four months when the exporters assured of improving quality.
The study reveals that from 1996 to 2000 Indian marine exports trade with West Asian countries was stable. But exports to South East Asian nations showed a volatile trend with a serious drop that occurred in 1998-99. The major markets of Indian marine products are China, EU, South East Asia, Japan, US and West Asia. The study showed that India has over-dependence on the Japanese market for shrimp exports. Now the Japan market showed gradual decline while US demand for Indian shrimps has increased but failed to sustain. Presently the US market is also going down gradually.
