Indian Mackerel: An Important Fish from India for Seafood Markets

 

 

Indian Mackerel: An Important Fish from India for Seafood Markets

India has a long coastline and a strong marine fishing sector, producing a wide variety of fish and seafood for domestic and international markets. Among India's commercially important marine fish, Indian Mackerel is an important species.

The Indian Mackerel is scientifically known as Rastrelliger kanagurta. It is a marine fish found along several coastal regions of India and is also handled as an export seafood product.

What Is Indian Mackerel?

Indian Mackerel is a marine fish belonging to the mackerel group. Its scientific name is Rastrelliger kanagurta.

It is commercially known as Indian Mackerel and is an important fishery species in India.

According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Indian Mackerel is one of India's commercially important fish species.

Where Is Indian Mackerel Found in India?

Indian Mackerel is distributed along the South, Middle-West and South-East coasts of India.

MPEDA identifies the Karnataka and Kerala coasts as important areas of abundance for Indian Mackerel.

This coastal distribution makes Indian Mackerel an important part of India's marine fishery sector.

Fishing of Indian Mackerel

Indian Mackerel is caught using fishing methods including gill nets and purse seines.

The availability of the fish can vary according to season and fishing conditions. MPEDA identifies August to November as the peak season for Indian Mackerel.

The seasonal nature of fishing is important for seafood businesses because availability, size and supply conditions can vary during the year.

Indian Mackerel and India's Seafood Industry

Indian Mackerel is an important part of India's marine fish landings.

MPEDA's marine fish landing reports have recorded Indian Mackerel among the major landed fish species in India. For example, MPEDA reported Indian Mackerel as the leading species by recorded quantity among the top five species landed in September 2023, with more than 10,000 tonnes recorded for that month in its selected landing data.

This demonstrates the commercial importance of Indian Mackerel in India's marine fishery sector.

Indian Mackerel for Seafood Markets

Indian Mackerel can be supplied to seafood markets in different forms depending on buyer requirements and processing facilities.

For international seafood trade, factors such as:

  • Fish size
  • Freshness
  • Quality
  • Temperature control
  • Processing requirements
  • Packaging
  • Transportation
  • Import regulations

are important considerations for buyers and exporters.

MPEDA's product specifications list Indian Mackerel in size categories of 5 to 8 pieces per kilogram and 9 to 12 pieces per kilogram, with listed packing formats including 20 kg configurations.

Actual specifications should always be confirmed with the buyer and exporter before a commercial shipment.

Indian Mackerel for International Markets

India's marine fishing resources provide opportunities for supplying different seafood products to international markets.

Indian Mackerel can be considered by seafood importers, wholesalers, distributors and food businesses looking for Indian-origin marine fish.

However, international seafood trade requires proper attention to product specifications, food safety, cold-chain management, documentation and the regulations of the destination country.

Indian Mackerel and the Thailand Market

Thailand has its own fishing industry and access to marine resources, but this does not mean that every type of seafood required by the Thai market must come only from domestic production.

For an India-to-Thailand seafood business, Indian Mackerel can therefore be considered as one potential product for market research.

Before approaching Thai buyers, exporters should understand the buyer's requirements for:

  • Fresh or frozen product
  • Required fish size
  • Quantity
  • Packaging
  • Delivery location
  • Quality standards
  • Import documentation
  • Price and payment terms

Rather than assuming that every Thai buyer wants Indian Mackerel, the best approach is to identify potential seafood buyers in Thailand and ask about their actual requirements.

Why Indian Mackerel May Be Interesting for Thai Buyers

Indian Mackerel may be of interest to seafood businesses looking for additional sources of marine fish.

For an Indian exporter and Thai importer, the commercial opportunity would depend on factors such as product quality, reliable supply, competitive pricing, logistics and compliance with Thai import requirements.

Therefore, buyer research should come before committing to regular supply.

Asha Indo Thai Export

Asha Indo Thai Export is developing an India-to-Thailand seafood and fish business initiative focused on identifying suitable Indian seafood products and connecting with potential buyers in Thailand.

Indian Mackerel is one of the fish products being researched for this purpose.

Our objective is to understand the requirements of Thai seafood buyers and explore opportunities for reliable sourcing of suitable Indian seafood products.

For business enquiries regarding Indian seafood and potential India-to-Thailand supply opportunities, please contact:

Asha Indo Thai Export
Email: nick1946sheenbg@gmail.com

Conclusion

Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) is an important marine fish of India. It is distributed along several Indian coastal regions, with Karnataka and Kerala identified by MPEDA as areas of abundance.

With its established role in India's marine fishery sector and its availability as an export seafood product, Indian Mackerel is a useful product to study when exploring India-to-Thailand seafood trade opportunities.

For any international seafood transaction, buyers and exporters should confirm product specifications, quality, packing, pricing, documentation and destination-country import requirements before finalizing a shipment.

Popular posts from this blog

Tilapia Fish in India: Farming, Production

Image
  Tilapia Fish in India: Farming, Production and Export Opportunities India has a large and growing aquaculture sector, producing different types of freshwater and marine fish for domestic consumption and international markets. Among the farmed fish species being developed in India, Tilapia has become an important species to study for future seafood trade. Tilapia is particularly interesting because it grows relatively quickly, can be cultured in tropical conditions and has potential as an affordable source of animal protein. What Is Tilapia? Tilapia is a group of freshwater and brackish-water fish that is widely cultured around the world. One important farmed variety in India is Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) . GIFT Tilapia is based on Oreochromis niloticus , commonly known as Nile Tilapia. According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), GIFT Tilapia is an important candidate species for aquaculture in India because of its fast growth and suitabi...
Read more

Fish Production in India

Image
  Fish Production in India – Major Fish Producing Regions and Export Potential India is one of the world's major fish-producing countries and has a large and diverse fisheries sector. Fish production in India comes from both inland fisheries and marine fisheries, while aquaculture has become an increasingly important part of the country's overall fish supply. For international buyers, India's large production base offers opportunities to source different varieties of fish and seafood in fresh, chilled and frozen forms, depending on product availability, buyer requirements and applicable export regulations. India’s Fish Production India is the second-largest fish-producing country in the world and is also a major producer through aquaculture. According to the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, total fish production was estimated at about 17.54 million metric tonnes in FY 2022–23, including approximately 13.11 million metric tonnes from inland fisheries and 4.43 mi...
Read more