MPEDA Introduces Digital Catch Certification System to Meet EU Compliance Norms

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has launched a new digital catch certification system designed to assist the Indian seafood sector in complying with the European Union’s amended regulations concerning Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to MPEDA, the effective adoption of these new catch certification and traceability requirements is vital for sustaining and growing India's market share, particularly given the substantial contribution of wild-caught seafood to exports directed to the EU and the UK.

To support this compliance, the authority has built a dedicated digital platform intended to streamline the certification process and ensure continued market access for Indian seafood exporters. The EU originally established its Catch Certificate system on January 1, 2010, under Regulation 1005/2008, to prevent and eliminate IUU fishing by mandating the validation of catch certificates for wild-caught marine products.

Following consultations with industry stakeholders, MPEDA empanelled private agencies to develop the specific applications required to capture the necessary traceability data. Furthermore, the authority integrated primary catch data traceability with its existing online Catch portal to help validate certificates that must accompany outbound consignments.

Following Brexit, the United Kingdom maintained similar regulatory standards, making valid catch certificates mandatory for wild-caught marine shipments arriving in the country as well.

Data for the 2026 fiscal year indicates that India exported 2,97,518 tonnes of marine products valued at $1,592.09 million (₹13,935 crore) to the EU and the UK combined. This trade volume represented 15 percent of India's total seafood export volume and 18.83 percent of its overall export value.

Key products shipped to the European market included frozen shrimp, frozen cuttlefish, fish oil, frozen squid, and frozen surimi. While wild-caught products made up 16 percent of the export volume to the region, they contributed a higher proportion at 27 percent of the total export value.

"The introduction of MPEDA's digital catch certification system is a necessary operational step for Indian seafood exporters navigating strict international regulations. Compliance infrastructure is no longer optional for businesses dealing with global markets like the European Union and the UK. By digitizing traceability and alignment with regulatory frameworks, exporters can safeguard their supply chains, reduce administrative delays, and protect a significant segment of India's marine export revenue." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes