Newsletters - Weekly Seafood Insights

Marine ingredients are at a pivotal global moment. Aquaculture feed production is expected to double by 2050, and the world is grappling with a fundamental question: where will the protein come from? Against this backdrop, India, the second largest fish producer on the planet finds itself in a paradox: exporting fish meal and fish oil in substantial volumes while simultaneously importing certified marine ingredients to feed its own aquaculture sector.

Two global voices. Two debates. One conclusion India should be leading, not defending. For the longest time, marine ingredients — fish meal and fish oil — have carried a strangere putation in our industry. Too extractive. Too dependent on wild fisheries. The uncomfortable part of the feed conversation.

In my recent podcast conversation with Jayan Nallacherry, a technology entrepreneur working at the intersection of seafood systems and digital innovation, one message stood out clearly: Traceability is no longer optional—it is the foundation of trust.

Why the Journey Starts with Mindset — Not Technology During a recent AquaBeats podcast conversation, I asked Kevin S. Edwards, VP Global Market Development in Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) an interesting question: Over the next five years, will traceability data become visible directly to consumers through QR codes and digital product passports?

India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector is entering an important phase of transformation, where the focus is gradually shifting from production growth to ecosystem development, farmer prosperity, and market positioning. Nowhere is this transition more visible than in Uttar Pradesh, a state that has traditionally been known for freshwater aquaculture but is increasingly positioning itself as a significant contributor to India’s blue economy.

India sits at the heart of one of the world’s most valuable tuna corridors. Nearly 47% of our 2.02 million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone covers waters around Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands — regions rich in tuna resources. Yet, despite this strategic advantage, India is rarely central to the global tuna conversation.

The World Seafood Congress 2026 was more than a global industry gathering. It represented a defining moment for India’s seafood sector and a broader reflection point for the global seafood community. With 221 delegates from 22 countries — including researchers, regulators, inspection authorities, startups, policymakers, and industry leaders — the Congress demonstrated both the scale and complexity of today’s seafood ecosystem.

Every few decades, an industry reaches a point where continuing “business as usual” becomes riskier than change. Indian shrimp aquaculture is at that point today. For years, we have focused on scale, speed, and volume — and it helped India become a global powerhouse.

This week’s conversations at AquaBeats centred on a shared theme across species and value chains: how India can move from volume-driven growth to value-led leadership. From shrimp farming challenges linked to performance, genetics, and transparency, to the need for data-backed competition among hatcheries, and finally to the untapped potential of India’s certified tuna fisheries, each discussion pointed toward the same conclusion —

Papua New Guinea is today recognised as one of the world’s largest and most trusted tuna fisheries. It contributes around 25% of the PNA tuna supply, 12% of global tuna production, and manages access to over 650,000 metric tonnes of MSC-certified tuna.

This week’s conversations on Aquabeats revolved around a single, uncomfortable truth: India doesn’t lack seafood potential — it lacks alignment. Whether we’re talking about potential export species, recurring disease losses in shrimp farming, or food safety challenges that surface at the border, the pattern is the same.

New Year Greetings As we enter a new year, we wish you good health, steady partnerships, and shared progress. The year ahead will be defining for global seafood. Supply chains are being reassessed, sourcing expectations are rising, and trust is becoming the most valuable currency in trade. This newsletter release on the onset of 2026 is our way of starting the year with clarity- about where Indian seafood stands, where it can go and why Aquabeats exists.

India’s seafood success story is at a critical inflection point. As global markets evolve and sustainability, resilience, and trust become non-negotiable, the need for a second export pillar is clear. This newsletter explores why tilapia—when built with the right systems, scale, and intent—could redefine India’s aquaculture and export future.

India’s seafood ecosystem is entering a decisive phase where scale alone is no longer sufficient. Global buyers, regulators, and investors are increasingly focused on sustainability, verification, and long-term reliability.

Global shrimp value chains are under pressure — rising feed costs, growing carbon scrutiny, tighter traceability expectations, and increasing supply volatility. Across South East Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America, large-scale commercial trials on insect protein are already underway. Retailers like Auchan are partnering directly with feed mills to demonstrate circular, low-carbon feed solutions at industrial scale.