The government on Wednesday said the overall exports of fish and fish products are on the rise and steps are being taken to further boost overseas shipments through diversification of products.

Releasing an handbook of fisheries statistics here, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said: "There has been steady growth in the export of fish and fish products over the period. Efforts are being made to boost the export potential through diversification of products for export."

In 2013-14, India exported 9.8 lakh tonnes of fish and fish products valuing Rs 30,213 crore, as against 6.78 lakh tonnes valuing Rs 10,048 crore in 2009-10, an official statement said. The rise in exports was due to introduction of exotic shrimp variety 'L Vannamei' along with guidelines framed for coastal aquaculture, it added. As per the provisional data, total fish production stood at 95.8 lakh tonnes, of which 61.4 lakh tonnes was from inland sector and 34.4 million tonnes from marine sector.

The handbook on fisheries sector provides production details from 1978 till 2013 besides trend in exports, fishing craft, per capita consumption pattern, contribution to total GDP of the country among other information. India is currently the world's second largest producer of fish. It is also world number two in aquaculture production as well as in inland capture fisheries.