(MENAFN- KNN India)
Bengaluru, Dec 9 (KNN) Karnataka has slipped from second to third place among Indian states exporting marine products, as per data presented by the Ministry of Commerce and industry in the Lok Sabha.
The state's export volume fell from 2.984 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 2.735 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, marking a significant decline of 8.36 per cent.
The downturn is attributed to drought conditions and rising sea temperatures, which have impacted fish breeding and catch. Karnataka's marine fish production dropped by 25 per cent, from 7,30,104 tonnes in 2022-23 to 5,42,675 tonnes in 2023-24.
"Drought and increased sea temperatures resulted in a poor catch," said Department of Fisheries Director Dinesh Kallar. Fisheries economist Dr. Ramachandra Bhatta highlighted the lack of rainfall during key breeding months as a critical factor.
Coastal states like Goa and Kerala also experienced declines, underscoring the challenges posed by environmental factors. In contrast, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, the top two exporters, saw growth due to their focus on commercial shrimp farming.
Andhra Pradesh exported 4.272 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, up from 3.870 lakh tonnes in the previous year. Gujarat climbed to second place, with exports rising from 2.934 lakh tonnes to 3.451 lakh tonnes during the same period.
India's seafood exports reached a record 18.19 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, buoyed by frozen shrimp, which accounted for 40.19 per cent of export quantity and 66.12 per cent of export value.
Karnataka, however, lags in aquaculture production, with just 970.39 hectares dedicated to shrimp farming compared to Andhra Pradesh's 71,921 hectares.
Despite a dip in export volume, Karnataka saw a slight increase in export value, from Rs 4,737.22 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 4,785.04 crore in 2023-24, due to higher unit prices.
However, India's overall marine export value declined from Rs 63,969.14 crore to Rs 60,523.89 crore, affected by inflation in key markets like the USA, EU, and UK, and oversupply from competitor nations such as Ecuador.
The figures highlight the pressing need for Karnataka to expand aquaculture and address climate challenges to regain its competitive edge in marine exports.
(KNN Bureau)
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