ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has prepared a draft of national guidelines for marine eco-labelling, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine on June 16, 2026. The draft, issued as a discussion paper, proposes a blueprint for a comprehensive national framework to regulate and oversee marine eco-labelling programmes operating in India.
What the Draft Proposes
The CMFRI draft aims to streamline seafood certification and enhance the global competitiveness of India's marine products. One major highlight is that it seeks to safeguard the interests of the country's fishing communities while promoting environmental sustainability through eco-labelling, thereby facilitating premium access to international markets for Indian seafood. Eco-label certification serves as proof that fish and fishery products originate from sustainable and responsibly managed fisheries.
The draft assumes significance at a time when demand for globally recognized sustainability certification of Indian seafood products is growing and many international certification agencies are set to expand their presence in the country, as per the report. Currently, India lacks a national mechanism to govern such certification processes, though several global agencies are already exploring opportunities in India.
The proposed framework ensures that certification schemes operate in alignment with Indian fisheries laws, sustainability priorities, and socio-economic realities. The framework recognizes that while eco-labelling can open access to premium international markets and potentially improve returns for fishers, it can also create barriers for small-scale and traditional fishing communities if left entirely to market-driven certification systems.
Who is Affected
- Indian seafood exporters and fishing communities: The draft mandates ensuring equitable stakes of traditional and artisanal fishers in certification processes, ruling out any chances of excluding legitimate stakeholders from eco-labelling benefits.
- International certification agencies: The framework insists that all certification activities must comply with national and state fisheries regulations, biodiversity conservation laws, seafood safety standards, and coastal aquaculture regulations. It also underscores India's sovereign rights over marine fisheries resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- Seafood value chain participants: The draft focuses on traceability throughout the seafood value chain, affecting all actors from capture to export.
Compliance Obligations and Next Steps
The draft is currently a discussion paper, not a final binding regulation. Key obligations proposed include:
- Certification schemes must align with Indian fisheries laws, biodiversity conservation laws, seafood safety standards, and coastal aquaculture regulations.
- Certification activities must respect India's sovereign rights over marine fisheries resources in its EEZ.
- Equitable participation of traditional and artisanal fishers must be ensured.
- Traceability requirements across the seafood value chain.
The document further explores the possibility of developing an indigenous Indian marine eco-label that could complement recognised international certification systems.
Implications for Trade Compliance
For trade compliance officers and seafood exporters, the draft signals a future regulatory environment where both international and potentially indigenous eco-labels will be governed by a national framework. Companies involved in exporting fish and fishery products from India should monitor the finalisation of this framework, as compliance with national eco-labelling standards may become a prerequisite for accessing premium international markets. The explicit protection of small-scale fishers indicates that any certification system must include social sustainability criteria, not just environmental ones. This could affect supply chain due diligence and documentation requirements for importers in markets such as the EU and US, which increasingly demand sustainability certifications. The reported involvement of multiple global agencies suggests that harmonisation with existing international standards (e.g., Marine Stewardship Council) will be a key area to watch.
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