GUEST COLUMN
Shaji Baby John
Timely intervention can save livelihoods and propel India to global seafood leadership
India’s seafood industry, a cornerstone of the blue economy, is at a crossroads. At the very outset, it is important to place on record the industry’s wholehearted support for our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India for their strong and principled stand in ongoing trade negotiations to protect national interests. This decisive leadership has given confidence to every segment of Indian industry, including fisheries. Yet, while India negotiates from a position of strength globally, millions of farmers, fishers and workers at home are facing one of the toughest challenges in recent history. The ongoing tariff war has disrupted exports, crashed farm-gate prices and left boat owners uncertain about their future. Within this crisis, however, lies an opportunity: with timely intervention from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India can not only safeguard livelihoods but also seize the chance to establish itself as a global leader in sustainable seafood production and trade.
Navigating the turbulent waters
Processors focusing primarily on the US market are struggling with unsold inventories. Premium varieties of large shrimp sizes, traditionally in demand in the US for the Christmas and New Year season, are piling up at factories and processors focused on the US markets have stopped procurement. Farmers are reluctant to harvest as the farm gate prices of these premium sizes have crashed more than 30 per cent in the past couple of weeks. While other markets are absorbing some of the excess volumes, their demand is mainly for medium sizes, whereas many farmers have already raised shrimps to larger sizes.
The pain extends beyond shrimp. Cephalopod products such as squid rings, cleaned octopus and cuttlefish caught by thousands of coastal fishers during this peak monsoon season—used to be major export items to the US. They are being diverted to other markets but at substantially lower prices. The story is the same even for tuna boats. With demand slowing and auction prices for tuna down by almost 20 per cent, boat owners are staring at losses and many are considering halting operations altogether.
“We have borrowed heavily to invest in seed, feed, healthcare, and technology adoption to produce large sized premium shrimps. Now prices have collapsed and we cannot even harvest. Without immediate support, many of us will sink,” says Ramesh, a shrimp farmer from Andhra Pradesh. His words reflect the anxiety of thousands of aquafarmers across the country.
Why RBI intervention is critical
In this environment, liquidity support is the lifeline the industry urgently needs. Farmers, processors and fishers are not seeking subsidies, but timely working capital to weather this storm. We urge the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to consider:
· A special one-time support package for the seafood industry, akin to the emergency measures during the Covid-19 crisis, which helped India’s seafood exporters and farmers emerge stronger and more resilient.
· An additional 30 per cent working capital facility for seafood exporters, processors, and farmer clusters to tide over the next 6–12 months.
“This is not about subsidies, but survival. Working capital at this stage will mean the difference between continuity and collapse,” notes an exporter from Gujarat.
Adding to this, Lalit Bhai, a fishing boat owner from Veraval, Gujarat, voices the fear on the ground: “Every trip to sea now feels like a gamble. Prices at the auction have dropped so much that sometimes the catch doesn’t even cover fuel costs. If support does not come quickly, many boats will be forced to stay docked.”
This short-term relief will prevent widespread distress, protect rural livelihoods, and ensure continuity of India’s seafood supply chain. Most importantly, it will buy the industry the critical time required to realign towards diversified markets and higher value-added products.
Lessons from Covid-19
In every crisis, India has found ways to emerge stronger. The Covid-19 pandemic was one such moment: timely support from the government and RBI enabled exporters, farmers and fishers to stabilise operations and bounce back with renewed vigour. Today’s tariff war must be seen in the same light—not just as a challenge, but as a catalyst for transformation.
With the right support, India’s seafood industry can:
· Diversify markets beyond the US, deepening ties with Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and new emerging destinations.
· Promote value addition by shifting from bulk exports to branded, packaged and ready-to-cook seafood.
· Accelerate technology adoption in aquaculture, processing and cold-chain systems to improve productivity, traceability and sustainability.
· Empower coastal and rural communities by creating clusters that integrate traditional expertise with modern, ethical aquaculture practices.
· Strengthen the “Seafood from India” brand as a symbol of quality, sustainability, and ethical production.
“We have the talent, resources, and markets. What we need now is liquidity support to keep the wheels turning. If that comes, India can emerge as the global leader in sustainable seafood,” says a senior industry representative.
Support delayed is support denied
The seafood sector sustains millions of farmers, fishers, and workers across India. Without immediate relief, the current situation could spiral into distress, forcing farmers to abandon crops and fishers to stop operations. Once the chain breaks, rebuilding it will be far more costly. That is why support delayed is support denied. RBI’s timely action—through a one-time support package and 30 per cent enhanced working capital—will not just save livelihoods but also give India’s seafood industry the breathing space to adapt, diversify and grow stronger.
If we act now—with the same urgency shown during COVID crisis and with the same clarity of purpose that guides India’s trade negotiations—the Indian seafood sector will not only overcome this turbulence but also accelerate its journey towards becoming a true global leader in the blue economy.
(The author is chairman and managing director, Kings Infra Ventures Limited; views expressed are personal)
