Members of the Seafood Exporters’ Association of India (SEAI) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to communicate the deepening crisis in the seafood export sector.
The delegation consisting of Anwar Hashim, national president, Elias Sait, secretary general and KG Lawrance, regional president, Kerala region, conveyed that the sector was facing its biggest crisis due to strengthening of Indian rupee, increase in fuel price and the US anti-dumping duty.
“This crisis has implications of depriving two million fishermen and farmers of their livelihood and laying off of more than 50,000 workers in the processing establishments of the exporters. Exports have dropped by 20% in rupee value and could drop by 50%, to $1 billion in the coming year,” Anwar Hashim said.
The suggestions in the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister include elimination of local levies of excise and sales tax on diesel for fishing, provision of alternate sources of livelihood for fishermen through providing land and finance for cage culture and encouraging culture of vanammae shrimp along with black tiger.
The association also sought relief measures like extension of the DEPB scheme beyond March 31, 2008 and an increase in DEPB rates by an additional 5%. Other requests include extension of focus product benefit to all marine products, transferability of target plus licenses, removal of service tax, support on freight costs and additional supports under the Foreign Trade Policy.