Dismissing reports that Indian firms would not be able to undertake shrimp exports to the US as `baseless,' MPEDA deputy director KK Chandran told PTI that the list published by the US president's office contained only that of nations allowed free exports to America.

The United States had imposed only a restriction on Indian shrimp exports, he said, adding the country had shipped a total of 34,400 tonnes of ``cultured'' shrimp during 1998-99 as against 32,914 tonnes exported during the previous year.

While exports decreased in dollar terms at 147.68 million from 161.04 in 1997-98, exports had recorded impressive gains in rupee terms at Rs 617 crore up from Rs 583.75 crore theprevious year.

Chandran said the temporary restriction on shrimp exports would in no way affect the shipment of shrimp to US.

``We are only faced with the prospect of a lower production. The exports is sure to maintain last year's growth rate and it could go up depending on the domestic production,'' the MPEDA official said.

US had banned shrimp imports from India for the fishermen not using Teds. It was imposed on the grounds of preserving rare turtles in the Indian Ocean.

However, the shrimp currently being exported to the US are cultured and these are being grown in aqua farms.

India had opposed the ban on shrimp exports to the US and dragged Washington to the dispute settlement body of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Following India's complaint the dispute settlement body set up a dispute settlement panel (DSP), which ruled the ban by the US as discriminatory.

Though the US appealed to the WTO appellate body, the DSP ruling was upheld.

However, the appellate body upheld the US legislationon ecological grounds.

After the appellate body ruling, the US had got 13 months time up to December this year to revoke the ban.

Chandran said the US had only restricted shrimp imports from India and not banned it.

MPEDA had been authorised by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US to certify Indian firms exporting shrimps.

The restriction hit only some fishermen in selective parts of Kerala, he said, adding most of the exports were tiger shrimps from aqua farms in Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar.