The Marine Products Export Authority (MPEDA) has set a target to export 12 lakh tonnes of products, valued about $ 6 billion this year. The exports up to August this year recorded 12% increase and the production may cross the expected targets during 2017-18, said MPEDA Chairman A. Jayathilak. Mr. Jayathilak along with Secretary B. Sree Kumar, RGCA Project Director S. Kandan and other officials participated in the national-level MPEDA Authority Meeting here on Tuesday. Authority members from all over India and officials participated. India is leading in marine exports, followed by China, Indonesia, Ecuador and other countries, and tonnes, worth $ 5.7 billion s and we want to be the top exporter, the Chairman told The Hindu on Tuesday. New markets Now, we want to focus on Korea and the Middle East countries where our market is less. MPEDA wants to go for expansion and tap the potential areas along the coastline. After AP, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala are the top producers of shrimp products, he said. The United States wants to make the laws more stringent for exports and implement the Marine Mammal Protection (MMP) Act, to protect the marine ecosystem and ecological approach for protecting the wildlife. We request the farmers to produce antibiotic-free produce right from nursery to the export level. Farmers should maintain bio-security and take up scientific farming to achieve high yield and good price in the international market. To compete in the world market, MPEDA recently deputed a senior officer to New York and we are promoting our products in all international exports, said Mr. Jayathilak. Stating that AP is the powerhouse for MPEDA, the Chairman said the Government of India has many plans to expand its activities in Andhra Pradesh, including setting up more labs for testing the samples. Joint raids We are conducting joint raids with the cooperation of Drug Control Department to check the sale of antibiotics, he said. Mr. Sree Kumar thanked the AP government for constituting district-level task force committees to prevent illegal sale of antibiotics and chemicals. We are writing to the fisheries departments of all States to identify the wetland areas and mangroves which are suitable for taking up aquaculture to boost marine exports, Mr. Sree Kumar said.