Exploring India’s Shrimp Sector: Global Leaders Gather in Andhra Pradesh

Understanding India’s shrimp landscape: In a significant initiative, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) recently organized the inaugural India Shrimp Landscape Tour. This event convened influential figures from the global seafood supply chain, finance, and commercial sectors to immerse themselves in the intricacies of India’s shrimp production ecosystem.

Overview of the Tour

Spanning five days in Andhra Pradesh, the tour highlighted shrimp production’s position within a broader context, interwoven with farming communities, environmental stewardship, and a multifaceted supply chain.

Participants included representatives from renowned organizations such as frozen seafood processor High Liner Foods, Comavicola, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Captain Fresh, and British International Investment (BII). Local collaborators like Seafood Solutions and Dakshin Foundation facilitated the program, allowing the group to delve into various facets of the shrimp farming landscape, ranging from hatcheries to processing plants.

Insights from Leaders

Roy van Daatselaar, Head of the Improver Programme, remarked:

“By bringing together buyers, investors, and supply chain partners in the field, the tour aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the social, environmental, and economic realities shaping shrimp production in India. Certification is a powerful tool to demonstrate responsible practices, but scaling impact across thousands of farms requires collaboration across the entire landscape.”

David Parreño, SFP’s Partnerships & Markets Engagement Specialist, added:

“ASC is clearly strengthening the foundations of responsible aquaculture. The consolidated Farm Standard brings greater consistency and rigor across environmental performance, animal welfare, and social responsibility. The Feed Standard reinforces expectations around ingredient sourcing and feed mill accountability.”

He illustrated the stark contrasts between certified and non-certified farms in Andhra Pradesh, emphasizing the importance of a landscape approach in such a dynamic aquaculture hub.

India’s Role in the Global Shrimp Industry

Currently, India ranks as the world’s second-largest shrimp producer and exporter, trailing only Ecuador. Approximately 70% of the nation’s shrimp production is concentrated in Andhra Pradesh, establishing it as a crucial sourcing hub for global seafood supply chains.

The tour underscored the significance of agricultural development in the region, featuring visits to community farms that prioritize stability over mere profits. Participants witnessed responsible practices such as ablation-free shrimp breeding and transparent feed ingredient sourcing. Additionally, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary illustrated the region’s dedication to sustainability, showcasing thriving mangroves alongside productive shrimp farms.

Collective Commitment Towards Sustainable Practices

Josh Austin, Senior Manager of Sustainability at High Liner Foods, expressed:

“The ASC landscape tour provided a deeper understanding of the need for a holistic approach in improving aquaculture in India. We observed an interconnected ecosystem of farms and communities, reinforcing the necessity of collective efforts for meaningful progress.”

A B Ch Mohan, Managing Partner at Seafood Solutions, emphasized:

“The landscape tour offered invaluable perspectives from all participants, highlighting the importance of bridging communication gaps across the value chain. Aligning global standards with local knowledge through a landscape approach creates lasting benefits for farmers, communities, and the environment.”

Future Directions

The tour provided ASC, SFP, and its partners with a platform to discuss the implementation of the Roadmap for Landscape-Level Improvements in Aquaculture. This roadmap aims to advance sustainability and resilience in shrimp production in Andhra Pradesh and establish a framework for a global landscape approach.

With this initiative, stakeholders recognize the region’s value and emphasize the importance of supporting conditions that ensure responsibly produced shrimp for the future. The ASC is committed to transforming aquaculture through continual improvements and aligned certification efforts.

Image Caption: Participants visit Devi Seafoods feed mill (ASC02992) to gain insights into the transparency and quality measures necessary for responsibly sourced feed. ASC