Why is it in the News?

Officials recently emphasized that India's shrimp export value chain is certified by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), ensuring that abusive conditions are not tolerated at shrimp farms.

About the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA):

• The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was set up by an act of Parliament in 1972.
  • The erstwhile Marine Products Export Promotion Council established by the Government of India in September 1961 was converged into MPEDA on 24th August 1972.
• MPEDA is given the mandate to promote the marine products industry with special reference to exports from the country.
• It is the nodal agency for the holistic development of the seafood industry in India to realize its full export potential as a nodal agency.
• Based on the recommendations of MPEDA, the Government of India notified new standards for fishing vessels, storage premises, processing plants, and conveyances.
• MPEDA’s focus is mainly on Market Promotion, Capture Fisheries, Culture Fisheries, Processing Infrastructure & Value addition, Quality Control, Research and Development.
• It is envisaged that this organization would take all actions to develop and augment the resources required for promoting the exports of “all varieties of fishery products known commercially as shrimp, prawn, lobster, crab, fish, shellfish, other aquatic animals or plants or part thereof and any other products which the authority may, by notification in the Gazette of India, declare to be marine products for (the) Act”.
• The Act empowers MPEDA to regulate exports of marine products and take all measures required for ensuring sustained, quality seafood exports from the country.
• MPEDA is given the authority to prescribe for itself any matters that the future might require for protecting and augmenting the seafood exports from the country.
• It is also empowered to inspect marine products, their raw materials, fixing standards, specifications, and training as well as take all necessary steps for marketing the seafood overseas.

Major Functions of MPEDA:

• • Infrastructure registration for seafood export trade.
  • Trade information collection and dissemination.
  • Promotion of Indian marine products overseas.
  • Assistance for infrastructure development and modernized processing.
  • Aquaculture promotion for export production augmentation.
  • Deep-sea fishing project promotion and equipment upgrade.
  • Market promotion and publicity activities.
  • Inspection of marine products and raw materials, setting standards.
  • Training for fishermen, fish processing workers, and aquaculture farmers.
  • Research and development through RGCA.
  • Extension activities through NETFISH and NaCSA.
  • Matters related to protecting and increasing seafood exports.
• Headquarters of MPEDA is located in Kochi, Kerala.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It has Trade Promotion offices in New Delhi, Tokyo, and New York.