Gujarat, despite low local fish consumption, has emerged as a powerhouse in India’s marine export industry. The state now houses nearly one in five of the country’s marine fish processing units, with a major cluster in Veraval that handles most of its catch. Almost the entire marine harvest is frozen, processed and shipped to global markets such as China, the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia, while a smaller share supplies northern India.

The growth has been driven by expanding export infrastructure, skilled labour and new entrepreneurs entering processing and export businesses. However, profit margins remain thin, and the industry depends heavily on volume, cold-chain logistics and steady marine output. Shrimp, squid, cuttlefish and ribbonfish dominate exports, with China acting as the largest direct buyer, often reprocessing Indian seafood for re-export to Western markets.

The sector supports more than four lakh people, from fishing crews and auction workers to plant labourers and exporters. Women’s groups in coastal towns such as Veraval are also building value-added businesses around dry fish products, expanding income opportunities within fishing communities.

Yet the trade faces mounting pressures. Warmer seas, rising cyclonic activity and shifting fish migration patterns are altering traditional catch cycles, while international competition is squeezing margins. For Gujarat’s fishing families, whose livelihoods are tied to long and risky voyages at sea, the industry’s future depends as much on climate and global markets as on the daily rhythm of the coast.