The Marine Seafood Export Supply Chain in India

This 2005 research paper analyzes India's marine seafood export supply chain, highlighting a stark contrast between the high hygiene standards of exporters and the poor conditions at the fisherman and supplier levels. While India is a global leader in fish production, the author argues that sustainability requires a bottom-up approach, including the formation of fishermen cooperatives and improved infrastructure at landing centers. The paper also examines the influence of stringent EU and U.S. import regulations, noting that while process regulations (like HACCP) have organized the industry, product regulations based on 'zero tolerance' for residues are often viewed as non-tariff trade barriers.

• India is a major global player in seafood, ranking fourth in global fish production and second in aquaculture as of 2003, with an annual production of approximately six million tons.
• The Indian marine seafood export market is dominated by frozen shrimp, which accounted for 66.97 per cent of total marine product exports in 2002–03. The U.S. became the largest market for these products in 2002–03, surpassing Japan.
• The seafood supply chain is structured as Fisherman $\rightarrow$ Commission Agent $\rightarrow$ Supplier (Pre-processor) $\rightarrow$ Exporter. Exporters act as the price setters, and there is low transparency regarding pricing for actors further down the chain.
• Severe hygiene and labor issues exist at the bottom of the supply chain. Fishermen often use ice made from unclean water and unprocessed salt, while supplier facilities are noted for poor sanitation, open drains, and the use of child labor.
• The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system is a mandatory requirement for Indian exporting units and is viewed by exporters and agencies as a necessary management tool that has helped organize the industry.
• EU import regulations are more comprehensive and rigid than U.S. requirements, often requiring exporters to maintain their own ice-making units and pre-processing facilities. Some exporters find these requirements impose costs without necessarily reducing risk.
• Product regulations in the EU and U.S., such as 'zero tolerance' policies for antibiotic residues and strict limits on heavy metals (e.g., mercury), are viewed negatively by exporters as being based on precautionary principles rather than actual food safety concerns.
• The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label is considered potentially non-viable in the current Indian environment due to a lack of resources and the small global market for certified fish, although its property rights framework could be useful for cooperatives.
• The author recommends a 'bottom-up' approach to sustainability, including the promotion of fishermen cooperatives to manage resources and the provision of basic hygiene training and clean water/ice facilities at landing centers.
• There is a recommended shift away from bottom trawling due to its destructive impact on the ocean floor, suggesting the Indian government work toward a gradual replacement of this method.

APA

Kulkarni, P. (2005). The Marine Seafood Export Supply Chain in India. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_marine_export_india.pdf

Chicago

Kulkarni, Parashar. The Marine Seafood Export Supply Chain in India. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2005. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_marine_export_india.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kulkarni |first1=Parashar |title=The Marine Seafood Export Supply Chain in India |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=December 2005 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_marine_export_india.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kulkarni2005marine, author = {Kulkarni, Parashar}, title = {{The Marine Seafood Export Supply Chain in India}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2005}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_marine_export_india.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }