March 21, 2011

Japanese earthquake affects India's seafood exports 

Due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the seafood export from Orissa, India, is likely to be affected in the coming months as approximately 30% of the total shipment of seafood from the state, mainly the black tiger prawn, is exported to Japan.

As Japan is reeling under severe crisis in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, the export of seafood from the state is likely to plunge dramatically in the coming months, the exporters feared. The exact impact would, however, be known after a month, they said.

"The export of black tiger shrimp generally starts from April so the exact impact on shipment will be known only after one month", said G. Mohanty, the president of Orissa Seafood Exporters' Association. Although the black tiger prawn is cultivated in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in large quantities, the Japanese are particularly fond of these species cultivated in Chilika, Asia's biggest brackish water lake and in West Bengal, he said. The black tiger prawns are worth around INR1.5 billion (US$33.4 million) and they are exported to Japan annually from the state, he said.

The seafood export from the state is expected to reach INR6 billion (US$133.6 million) this year against last year's achievement of INR4.28 billion (US$95.3 million). In 2008-09, seafood worth around INR3.5 billion (US$77.9 million) was exported from the state.

Besides Japan, seafood, including the black tiger prawn, fish and crab, are also exported to the European countries, US and Gulf countries. The exporters, however, preferred exporting this food material to Japan as they were getting remunerative prices and timely payment. "If we lose the Japanese market, we will certainly be affected as other markets are unlikely to provide us with high prices", said another exporter.

This will ultimately affect the prawn cultivators in the state, Mohanty said.

Meanwhile, the state government has asked the exporters to chalk out a contingency plan, so that the seafood export is not affected due to the natural disaster in Japan. "We have asked the exporters to chalk out the contingency plan," said the state's fishery and animal resources development commissioner, Satyabrata Sahu.

The exporters said they have to find new market for the export. "We have to look at Russia and South African countries", Mohanty said.