The country’s total seafood exports are expected to increase by 5 per cent to $ 7.5 billion.

In March only, the country exported $ 603.3 million worth of seafood, up by 41.6 per cent over the previous month.

Japan was leading the list of the country’s biggest seafood export markets in the first quarter of this year with the export turnover of $ 252.9 million, up by 29.5 per cent over the same period last year and accounted for 16.7 per cent of the total.

It was followed by the U.S with $ 251.2 million, down by 14.8 per cent; China - $ 144.47 million, up by 17.9 per cent.

In the first quarter, the country’s exports to Kuwait fell by 48 per cent; to Rumania – down by 39.5 per cent; to Iraq – down by 57.6 per cent; and to Turkey – down by 35.5 per cent.

However, the exports to the traditional markets saw growth. The exports to Israel increased sharply by 138.6 per cent to $ 19.33 million; to Denmark – up by 107.2 per cent to $ 9.84 million; and to Brazil – up by 75.1 per cent to $ 35.92 million.