India’s seafood export industry owes much of its growth to a determined group of early exporters, many of them based in Cochin. At a time when marine products were largely sun-dried or salt-cured, these pioneers took bold steps to adopt freezing and canning technologies. The Cochin Company was the first to receive mechanised boats from the government and emerged as a pioneer in freezing technology, setting early benchmarks for large-scale preservation of seafood. Firms like Abad built on this momentum, adapting and scaling freezing systems from existing canning plants - a process they continue to expand and refine today. Using these benchmarks, other exporters from Cochin also invested in cold storage, hygienic processing, and improved packaging, laying the groundwork for India's entry into global seafood markets. Their efforts helped define technical standards and positioned Cochin as the launchpad for a national industry.
As international food safety and trade regulations evolved, these firms led the way in upgrading facilities, meeting EU compliance standards, and developing value-added products. By the early 2000s, Cochin had the highest number of EU-approved seafood processing units in India. These exporters were instrumental not only in increasing volumes but also in shaping India’s reputation as a reliable, high-quality supplier, bringing consistency, traceability, and food safety to the forefront.
While Cochin was the starting point of India’s seafood export journey, the industry has since grown and diversified. The rise of shrimp farming, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, has led many processing operations to shift closer to aquaculture zones. Yet Cochin continues to play a central role as a research and regulatory hub, home to institutions like CIFT, CIFNET CMFRI, NIFAM, NIFPHATT, and MPEDA. These bodies continue to drive innovation, ensure quality, and support the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Legacy firms played a central role in shaping India’s seafood export industry.
Based in Cochin, they pioneered practices, set quality benchmarks, and helped putIndian marine products on the global map.
ABAD Fisheries
Cochin Company
Baby Marine
Indo-Marine Agencies
India Seafoods
Island Seafoods
New India Fisheries
Castlerock Fisheries
Marino Fisheries
Southern Fisheries Corporation Ltd.
LASTING INFLUENCE
The foundational efforts made in Cochin, from pioneering exports and private investment to scientific research and regulatory systems, continue to shape India’s seafood export industry today. While Cochin remains a key processing and certification hub, the industry has expanded significantly across India’s coastal states.
Over the past two decades, Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the country’s largest seafood exporting state, primarily due to the widespread adoption of vannamei shrimp farming, favourable land availability, and a supportive aquaculture policy. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha have also developed strong processing and export infrastructure, diversifying the industry's geographic footprint. At a national level, India now exports seafood to over 100 countries, with the USA, China, Japan, and the EU as top markets. As of FY 2023–24, exports reached an all-time high of 1.78 million metric tonnes, valued at over US$7.3 billion. Products like frozen shrimp, squid, cuttlefish, surimi, and fish meal have grown in volume and variety, supported by over 100 certified freezing and processing plants across the country. Today’s industry also reflects a deeper focus on traceability, sustainability, and digital platforms. Initiatives like SHAPHARI certification, E-Santa (an e-marketplace for farmers), and pre-harvest testing centres are rooted in systems that began decades ago in Cochin. The institutions, exporters, and infrastructure developed there have not only endured but scaled - forming a legacy that continues to influence India’s position as one of the world’s leading seafood exporters.
Aquaculture, Andhra Pradesh
Source: ABAD Archives
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES
MPEDA headquarters, Kochi.
In 1972, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was set up in Cochin to formalise national efforts. MPEDA’s initial mandate focused on infrastructure registration, quality control, and overseas promotion of Indian seafood. Alongside MPEDA, Cochin became home to several key national institutions: CIFT refined processing and packaging technologies. CMFRI conducted marine research and promoted sustainable practices. CIFNET trained technical professionals for fishing and export operations. These institutions collectively bridged science, policy, and practice, ensuring India’s compliance with international standards and supporting the sector through critical transitions, such as the regulatory overhaul following the EU’s 1997 import restrictions. Their work helped professionalise the industry and cement Cochin’s role as both a policy and production hub for Indian marine exports.
The growth of India’s seafood export industry is underpinned by a robust network of institutions—many of which originated in Kerala. As early as the 1950s, Kerala established one of the country’s first dedicated fisheries departments, laying the groundwork for coordinated development. Scientific support followed through research bodies like the West Hill Marine Biological Station in Calicut, which contributed early studies
on Indian fisheries.
FOUNDATIONAL ACTIONS
The roots of India’s seafood export industry can be traced to decisive actions taken in Cochin during the mid-20th century. In 1953, India recorded its first-ever frozen shrimp export, half a tonne shipped from Cochin to the United States. Prior to this, marine products were largely sun-dried, salt-cured, or canned in limited quantities for trade with nearby countries. The transition to frozen exports marked a turning point, introducing stricter hygiene, longer shelf life, and access to high-value international markets.
To support this shift, local entrepreneurs in Cochin invested in block freezing units and later adopted Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology by the late 1970s. Cold storage and ice plants were built near landing centres to reduce spoilage and maintain freshness. These facilities supported round-the-clock operations and enabled exporters to meet growing global demand. By 1980, over 100 processing plants had been registered across India, with a significant cluster in and around Cochin. Critical land-based infrastructure developments along Thoppumpady Bridge and Kochangadi Road became key arteries connecting the harbour to processing hubs and the port. This connectivity allowed for early-morning catch to be cleaned, frozen, and loaded for export within hours - a major operational strength in a time-sensitive industry. Meanwhile, the Indo-Norwegian Project (INP), launched in 1952, introduced mechanised boats, established boatyards and cold storage units, and set up the first offshore oceanographic research cruises. By 1957, seven INP vessels were operating out of Cochin, and five Indian skippers had been trained. That same year, India’s total marine fish landings reached 875,420 metric tonnes, up from 580,021 metric tonnes in 1950—a 50% increase over seven years. Institutional and policy support also strengthened during this period. Kerala was among the first states to form a dedicated fisheries department. Research centres like the West Hill Marine Biological Station in Calicut contributed early scientific data, while the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), established in 1957, began working with exporters on packaging materials and processing innovations.
Feed fish being stored into one of the insulated vans
Source: Archive.org
Seafood Export Legacy
How India Built a Global Industry from Its Coasts
India’s rise as a global seafood exporter began with early efforts in Cochin, where the first frozen shrimp export took place in 1953. Since then, the industry has expanded into a nationwide network of fishing communities, exporters, and institutions. This page highlightsthe people, companies, and milestones that built that legacy.
The Prime Minister of Norway His Excellency Mr. Einar Gerhardsen and party arrived in Needakara (Quilon District) the Indo-Norwegian Project Headquarters, on December 7, 1958.
Photo shows the visiting Prime Minister observing a work man at the machine in the Boat Building Centre. Image Source : Archive.org
