India as a Global Leader in Aquaculture

Context

India, with its sizable shoreline and inland water assets, has emerged as a global leader in aquaculture. Over the past  many years, India has made notable progress, mainly in prawn farming, balancing each financial and nutritional needs.

About Aquaculture

• Aquaculture involves the managed cultivation of aquatic species in freshwater, brackish, or marine environments. 
• It complements end fisheries and plays a pivotal role in meeting the developing demand for animal protein, generating employment, and contributing to exports.
• It can be categorised into following categories:
  • Freshwater aquaculture
  • Coastal aquaculture
  • Sea farming
  • Brackish water aquaculture

India’s Progress in Aquaculture

• India is presently:
• • third biggest producer of aquaculture products globally.
  • second within the global for prawn manufacturing.
  • Home to key aquaculture states: Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Gujarat.
• A highlight of India’s aquaculture success is its thriving black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) industry. This high-cost species is farmed across appropriate coastal areas and is in strong demand for both domestic consumption and export.

Factors Behind India’s High Growth in Aquaculture

• Geographic and Natural Advantages: Long shoreline (11,098 km) and plentiful brackish water zones.
  • Coastal groundwater and tidal get admission to useful resource water salinity control (10–25g/L wished for prawn farming).
• Innovative Farming Techniques: Promotion of smaller ponds (e.g., in Andhra Pradesh) for higher yield and disorder control.
  • Controlled pond management and salinity balancing by brackish water and river water mixing.
• Private and Institutional Collaboration: Research guide from organisations like ICAR-CIBA, which evolved ‘unique pathogen loose’ broodstock.
  • Growth of aquafeed industries and labs for ailment detection.

Challenges in Aquaculture

• Disease Outbreaks: Pathogens like Vibrio harveyi and White Spot Syndrome Virus cause up to 25% annual yield losses.
• Environmental and Climate Change Pressures: Salinity shifts, water temperature versions, and extreme climate occasions affecting manufacturing cycles.
• Infrastructure and Resource Gaps: Need for advanced access to checking out labs, biosecure hatcheries, and cold chain logistics in far flung regions.

Key Government and Research Initiatives

• ICAR-CIBA (Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture): Pioneering SPF (specific pathogen-loose) prawn improvement.
• Promotion of phage therapy to address bacterial diseases.
• Skill education, credit access, and support for small-scale farmers through government schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.
• Lab networks and diagnostic services to reveal and contain infections early.

Way Ahead

• To maintain the increase and make aquaculture climate-resilient, India needs to:
  • Scale biosecure hatcheries and enlarge SPF broodstock manufacturing.
  • Encourage R&D in feed efficiency, breeding, and disease resistance.
  • Improve cold chain logistics and export infrastructure.
  • Promote digital aquaculture management systems for small farmers.
  • Integrate environmental sustainability, like mangrove-friendly shrimp farming.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Defining the blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India. (2018)

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