A precursory draft on: National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabeling in India

Shinoj, P and Ramachandran, C and Jayasankar, J (2026) A precursory draft on: National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabeling in India. CMFRI Marine Fisheries Policy Series No.36/2026 . ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.

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Abstract

India’s marine capture fisheries and emerging mariculture sector are vital for ensuring food and nutrition security, and livelihood support for about 4 million coastal inhabitants, besides earning foreign exchange for the country . India is the second-largest fish-producing country with around 8% share in global fish production, making it a significant player in the global seafood trade. The targeted annual seafood export turnover is to the tune of Rs one trillion. With fish consumers—especially in developed countries—becoming more conscious about transparency and responsible sourcing, global seafood markets are increasingly demanding ecolabelled products certified as coming from sustainable, well-managed fisheries and farms. While several international eco-labelling schemes (e.g. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Friend of the Sea (FoS), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)) are active or interested in India, there is currently no single national framework governing how such schemes operate in Indian waters and communities. To safeguard sovereign resource management in its EEZ, fishing communities’ rights, ecosystem health, and consumer confidence, a ‘National Guidelines for Marine Ecolabelling’ is proposed with the following purposes and objectives.

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