Kerala fishers and exporters are protesting the announcement, as none of the state's fleet of 5,500 mechanised boats is registered with the EIA and neither are the four landing harbours on the state's coastline.
India has a fleet of more than 60,000 mechanised boats, and exporters complain that none have been registered with the agency. Moreover, there are also 48 major fishing harbours and numerous fish landing centres which are not registered, Business Line reports.
An official of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said talks are on to resolve the issue between exporters and the Export Inspection Council (EIC).
However, the EIA has agreed on a suspension until it hears the opinions of exporters and boat owners in the next few weeks, exporters said, Times of India reports.
The EU is India’s second-largest market for marine exports after Southeast Asia with 22.02 per cent, followed by the US with 19.17 per cent, Japan at 14.09 per cent and China at 7.06 per cent.
"Registering these boats will be a lengthy, if not tortuous process, as a lot of awareness has to be generated and this would take time. As for harbours and landing centres, just two of them have provisional approval while the rest do not conform to EU standards of hygiene and packing to ensure safety from contamination,” informed Anwar Hashim, managing director of Abad Fisheries and former president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).
He noted that Kerala’s seafood industry was caught by surprise and is fearful of what lies ahead for exports. While Kerala's shrimp exports are largely shipped to the US and Japan, the EU is the primary market for cuttlefish and squid. Hashim said a similar notification was issued in 2011.
"In our talks with EIC then, our understanding was that EIC's proposed inspections for ensuring hygiene at the landing centres and proper decontamination facilities would not be linked to the issue of registrations. Unfortunately, that is what seems to be happening," Hashim said.
Exporters have highlighted that the issue is beyond their control because the fishing harbours are owned by the government, which should ensure hygiene at the landing centres.
Seafood from Kerala fetched over INR 20 billion (USD 383.2 million) of India's estimated INR 170 billion (USD 3.3 billion) worth of exports in fiscal 2011.
Some of the exporters argue that the crisis will mean many companies will not be able to accomplish their export target set for the current fiscal year.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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