New requirements around traceability, sustainability and compliance are prompting Kerala’s seafood industry to strengthen export practices for the US market.
Kerala’s seafood industry is facing increased scrutiny in the US market as new trade requirements place greater emphasis on traceability, sustainability and compliance with environmental and labour standards. The developments are significant for the state’s seafood exporters, particularly those supplying shrimp and other products to the United States.
The US remains an important destination for Indian seafood, with frozen shrimp accounting for a major share of exports to the market. Kerala is among India’s leading seafood-exporting states, recording seafood exports worth about US$829.42 million in 2024–25, according to figures reported by The New Indian Express.
The changing requirements are encouraging exporters and other stakeholders to place greater focus on transparency across the seafood supply chain. This includes maintaining clearer information about where seafood is sourced, how it is processed and whether production practices meet applicable environmental and labour standards.
For Kerala’s fishing and processing sectors, compliance could require closer coordination between fishers, processors, exporters and regulatory bodies. Industry participants are working on quality-assurance and sourcing systems intended to strengthen transparency and help products meet requirements in international markets.
The developments come against a wider shift in India’s seafood export strategy. The country has been looking at market diversification amid changing conditions in major destinations, with Russia, the UK, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, China, West Asia and South Korea identified as potential alternative markets.
India exported 1.698 million tonnes of seafood worth ₹62,408.45 crore (US$7.45 billion) in 2024–25, with frozen shrimp remaining the leading export commodity by both quantity and value. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were among the leading exporting states.
The latest developments underline the growing importance of meeting international standards in seafood trade. For Kerala’s exporters, stronger traceability, sustainability practices and compliance systems could become increasingly important for maintaining access to the US market while supporting the sector’s presence in other international destinations.