Draft export roadmap targets quality, traceability and value addition as India looks to bring inland States deeper into the seafood export value chain

Key Highlights

• Government has prepared a draft guidance document to expand inland States and UTs’ participation in seafood exports.
• ₹2,797 crore approved for fisheries cold-chain and marketing infrastructure nationwide.
• Projects include 775 cold storages and ice plants and 28,489 fish transportation units.
• Pilot project explores drone transportation of live fish, with a target of carrying up to 100 kg over around 10 km.
• ICAR-CIFRI has demonstrated transportation of a 70-kg live fish payload over 7 km.
• PMMSY has supported 2,195 fisheries cooperatives as Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs) with a project outlay of ₹544.85 crore.
• Fisheries stakeholders are being connected to digital commerce through an MoU with ONDC.

Inland States Get New Export Roadmap

The Government of India is preparing to bring inland fisheries more firmly into the country’s growing seafood export ecosystem, with a new guidance document focusing on quality assurance, traceability, post-harvest management, value addition and international market access.

The Department of Fisheries has prepared the draft guidance in consultation with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Export Inspection Council (EIC) and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

The initiative is aimed at helping inland States and Union Territories build the infrastructure and capabilities required to participate in export-oriented aquaculture and seafood supply chains.

Awareness programmes, exposure visits and capacity-building initiatives are also being conducted by the Department in collaboration with MPEDA and NFDB.

₹2,797 Crore Investment in Cold Chain and Fish Marketing

Post-harvest infrastructure is a major component of the export strategy.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), the government has approved proposals worth ₹2,797 crore for cold-chain and marketing infrastructure across India.

The approved infrastructure includes:

• 775 cold storages and ice plants
• 28,489 fish transportation units
• 1,394 live fish vending units
• 6,018 fish kiosks
• 117 retail fish markets
• 24 wholesale fish markets

The infrastructure is expected to improve fish handling, transportation, preservation and market connectivity between production centres and domestic and export markets.

Drone Technology Tested for Live Fish Transportation

In one of the more technology-focused interventions, the government is exploring the use of drones to transport live fish over short distances.

The ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), in collaboration with NFDB, is implementing a pilot project approved at a cost of ₹116.85 lakh.

The project aims to develop a drone system capable of transporting up to 100 kg of live fish over approximately 10 km, while maintaining fish health and water quality.

ICAR-CIFRI has already demonstrated transportation of a 70-kg payload over 7 km, marking progress towards the project’s target.

The research also examines fish behaviour and stress during drone transportation. Specialised containers are being developed to regulate parameters such as water quality, dissolved oxygen and temperature.

A Technical Committee has also been constituted to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safe adoption of drone technology in fisheries.

Export Quality and International Compliance Get Focus

The Export Inspection Council is supporting seafood exporters through inspection, certification and capacity-building programmes aimed at meeting international standards.

Meanwhile, MPEDA is working to expand overseas market access through Buyer-Seller Meets, Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets, international seafood trade fairs and cooperation with Indian Missions abroad.

The government is also using Free Trade Agreements and bilateral trade engagements to improve market access for Indian seafood products and diversify export destinations.

Digital Commerce Opens New Market Opportunities

The fisheries sector is also being connected to digital commerce.

The Department of Fisheries has signed an MoU with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to provide a digital marketplace through which traditional fishermen, fish farmer producer organisations and fisheries entrepreneurs can buy and sell products.

The objective is to improve price discovery, market access and profitability for fisheries stakeholders.

2,195 FFPOs Supported Under PMMSY

The government is also strengthening collective marketing and production through Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs).

PMMSY has supported 2,195 fisheries cooperatives as FFPOs, with a project outlay of ₹544.85 crore through implementing agencies including the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) and NAFED.

For inland aquaculture producers, these organisations could help aggregate production, improve access to technology and strengthen connections with processors, exporters and organised markets.

Training and Capacity Building for Export Readiness

PMMSY is also focusing on training and skill development for fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, vendors, entrepreneurs, officials, fisheries cooperatives and FFPO members.

Training covers areas such as fishing technology, aquaculture, post-harvest handling and other activities relevant to participation in export markets.

The government said these interventions are intended to create a more export-ready fisheries workforce while improving quality and efficiency across the value chain.

Impact on Hospitality, Food and Tourism

The inland fisheries export push could have a significant impact on India’s foodservice, hospitality and culinary tourism sectors, particularly as better logistics make high-value inland fish more accessible beyond their production regions.

For hotels and restaurants: Improved cold chains and transportation can give hospitality businesses access to a wider range of inland fish and aquaculture products, potentially improving consistency in quality and supply.

For seafood cuisine: Better post-harvest handling could allow regional freshwater species to reach premium restaurants and destination dining markets with improved freshness and traceability.

For food processing: Expanded cold storage, processing and logistics infrastructure could support new value-added seafood products and strengthen linkages between aquaculture clusters and processors.

For culinary tourism: Inland States could increasingly promote local freshwater fish cuisines, traditional preparations and food experiences as part of regional tourism offerings.

For technology-led hospitality supply chains: Emerging logistics solutions, including drone-based live-fish transportation, could eventually support faster movement of specialised, high-value seafood between production centres, markets and hospitality destinations.

Bottom Line

India’s inland fisheries strategy is evolving from a production-focused model towards an export-oriented, technology-enabled value chain. Cold chains, traceability, digital commerce, FFPOs, international market access and experimental drone logistics could help inland aquaculture producers connect with premium domestic and global markets.

For the hospitality industry, this could translate into greater access to diverse freshwater seafood, stronger regional sourcing and new opportunities for inland culinary and food tourism.