New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- New Delhi: In what has come as a relief to India's seafood industry, the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has said that India's exports meet America's mammal protection standards, allowing their continued shipments.

Interestingly, India's seafood export rivals-China, Mexico, and Ecuador-were denied certification, barring certain fisheries exports to the US beyond 31 December, two government officials aware of the development said.

The US mammal protection standards refer to rules that prevent killing or wounding marine mammals such as dolphins and whales while fishing. The US requires exporting nations to show that their fishing methods don't harm sea mammals more than what is permitted for American fishe...