NEWS – Karnataka slipped to the 3rd position among states exporting marine products, ceding the 2nd position to Gujarat.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Export Statistics:
  • 2022-23: 2.984 lakh tonnes exported.
  • 2023-24: Export volume declined to 2.735 lakh tonnes.
• Reasons for Decline:
  • Drought: Impacted fish breeding cycles.
  • Rising Sea Temperatures: Led to a reduced fish catch.

Comparison with Leading States

• Andhra Pradesh:
  • 2022-23: Exported 3.870 lakh tonnes.
  • 2023-24: Increased exports to 4.272 lakh tonnes.
  • Key Factor: Extensive shrimp farming over 71,921 hectares.
• Gujarat:
  • 2022-23: Exported 2.934 lakh tonnes.
  • 2023-24: Increased to 3.451 lakh tonnes.
  • Key Factor: Commercial marine shrimp farming.

National Overview

• India’s Seafood Exports:
  • 2022-23: 17.54 lakh tonnes.
  • 2023-24: Hit an all-time high of 18.19 lakh tonnes.
• Frozen Shrimp Dominance:
  • Accounted for 40.19% of export quantity.
  • Contributed 66.12% of total earnings.

Challenges for Karnataka

• Limited Aquaculture Production:
  • Karnataka: Shrimp farming spans only 970.39 hectares compared to Andhra Pradesh’s vast farming area.
• Marine Fish Production Decline:
  • 2022-23: 7,30,104 tonnes.
  • 2023-24: Dropped by 25% to 5,42,675 tonnes.

Future Recommendations

• Expansion of aquaculture farming, particularly shrimp farming, to compete with leading states.
• Development of strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on marine fisheries.
• Strengthening support for fish breeders and aquaculture farmers to enhance production resilience.