Context: Recently, India rejected the allegations of human rights and environmental abuses raised by a Chicago-based human rights group.

India Refutes Allegations on Shrimp Hatcheries 

• Allegations: A report from Corporate Accountability Lab (CAL) alleged working conditions in some shrimp hatcheries, growing ponds and peeling sheds.

• Rejection by India: India rejected the allegations by mentioning that the entire value chain for India’s shrimp exports is certified by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and there is no scope for such concerns about overseas shipments. 

Action taken by India

• Conduct of Independent Studies: The Commerce Ministry advised exporters to commission independent studies on the working conditions at shrimp farms to eliminate the concerns in major markets like the U.S. and EU. 

• Specific Involvement: The Commerce Ministry has also asked the Andhra Pradesh government to look into the allegations made in the CAL report, such as workers facing ‘dangerous and abusive conditions’.

India’s Position on Shrimps

• Progressive Export: In 2022-23, India’s seafood exports stood at $8.09 billion and shrimps contributed to $5.6 billion. 

• India has emerged as one of the world’s largest shrimp exporters and its share in the U.S. market has risen from 21% to 40% in 2022-23.

• Target: India aims to scale up seafood exports to Rs 1 lakh crore by 2025-26.

• Shrimp Producing States in India: Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Gujarat. 

• Shrimp farming is also taking roots in the states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

• Andhra Pradesh accounts for the largest market share. There are about a lakh shrimp farms, alone account for almost 70% of India’s shrimp output. 

• Women-Inclusive Sector: Women share about 70% of the 8 million-odd jobs in the sector, including two lakh in hatcheries and aquaculture farms and the rest in processing and freezing units.

Shrimp Farming

• Shrimp Farming is an aquaculture business that exists in either a marine or freshwater environment, producing shrimp or prawns for human consumption.

• Shrimp Capital of India: Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh is known as the Shrimp capital of India.

• Shrimps are widespread, and can be found near the seafloor of most coasts and estuaries, as well as in rivers and lakes. Most shrimp species are marine, although many of its species are found in freshwater.

• Although shrimp are almost entirely fully aquatic, the two species of Merguia are semi-terrestrial and spend a significant part of their life on land in mangroves.

Sustainable Aquaculture In Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) Initiative

• Start: In 2019 

• About: It is a community-based initiative for sustainable shrimp cultivation. Under the initiative, farmers have taken up the cultivation of shrimp at 30 hectares in West Bengal. 

• Also, they are restoring mangroves.

About Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA)

• Establishment: MPEDA is a statutory body set up under Section (4) of the MPEDA Act, 1972.

• Mandate: It is the nodal agency for the holistic development of the seafood industry in India to realize its full export potential as a nodal agency.

• Focus Areas: Market Promotion, Capture Fisheries, Culture Fisheries, Processing Infrastructure and Value addition, Quality Control and Research and Development.