Odisha, MPEDA Chart Seafood Export Roadmap to Realise Deep Sea Mission Targets

The roadmap emerged from high-level discussions between MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar and Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg, along with senior state government officials.

The meeting focused on leveraging Odisha’s vast marine resources to expand export opportunities and strengthen the fisheries sector.

Odisha possesses immense potential in marine and aquaculture development, backed by its 575-kilometre coastline, extensive brackish-water resources, reservoirs, and the ecologically rich Chilika Lake.

Recognising these strengths, both sides discussed strategies aimed at enhancing the state’s position in global seafood markets.

Key areas of focus included increasing value-added seafood exports, promoting high-value species such as mud crab and scampi, and strengthening branding initiatives through Geographical Indication (GI) tagging for Chilika mud crab and black tiger shrimp.

Officials also explored opportunities for joint participation in international seafood exhibitions to improve Odisha’s visibility among global buyers.

The discussions further emphasized training fishermen and vessel crews in deep-sea tuna fishing and onboard processing techniques.

Steps were also proposed to integrate more aqua farms into the AquaTrace traceability platform and bring additional freshwater reservoirs under export-oriented fisheries development.

During the meeting, Odisha sought MPEDA’s support in export facilitation, technical guidance and market access initiatives.

Both sides agreed to prepare a coordinated action plan aligned with the state’s Deep Sea Fishing Mission (2026-2036).

The Deep Sea Fishing Mission, approved with an investment of ₹2,295 crore, aims to significantly enhance marine fish production, create employment opportunities across the fisheries value chain, and increase Odisha’s marine exports.

The state has set a target of achieving around ₹5,000 crore in annual marine exports by 2036 through modernization, diversification and sustainable harvesting practices.

Although Odisha’s seafood exports have already crossed ₹5,400 crore, a large share continues to come from shrimp exports.

Policymakers believe diversification into high-value marine species and greater value addition will help the state achieve long-term growth and strengthen its competitiveness in international markets.

The collaboration between MPEDA and the Odisha Government is expected to play a key role in transforming the state’s fisheries sector, unlocking new economic opportunities for coastal communities and positioning Odisha as a major seafood export hub in India.