PARSA, April 17 -- Fish imports from Birgunj customs point has dropped 30 percent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year largely due to strict enforcement of quarantine rules by Indian authorities.

The Indian quarantine office has mandated traders to get an approval letter before exporting healthy meat.

However, government officials said it was a result of increased domestic output as the country is gradually attaining self-sufficiency in fish production.

According to the Animal Quarantine Office, Birgunj, the country imported 169 tonnes of fresh fish through Birgunj customs point during the mid-July to mid-April period, as compared to 240 tonnes in the same time period last fiscal year.

Domestic production of fish has be...