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India’s aquaculture sector plays a key role in the country's nutrition and economy, making it the world’s third-largest aquaculture producer and second-largest in prawn production.
India’s prawn production has seen a 17% annual growth, contributing to both domestic consumption and exports.
What is Aquaculture?
Aquaculture refers to the cultivation and management of aquatic organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms for commercial, recreational, and scientific purposes.
It is considered the aquatic counterpart of agriculture, focusing on rearing marine and freshwater species to supplement natural populations.
Global Growth:
Aquaculture is among the fastest-growing food production sectors worldwide.
It currently supplies over 50% of the seafood consumed globally.
Leading Producers:
China dominates global aquaculture, accounting for nearly 60% of total production.
Other major producers include Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.
State of Prawn Aquaculture in India
Prawns, with their high protein and low fat content, are increasingly in demand both domestically and internationally
A premium variety, the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), is highly valued for its size and quality.
These prawns require salinity levels of 10–25 grams/litre, compared to seawater which has 35 grams/litre.
Andhra Pradesh is the largest contributor to prawn production in India followed by West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Gujarat.
In coastal Andhra Pradesh, brackish groundwater is blended with freshwater from rivers and canals.
Innovative Practices by Farmers
Use of smaller ponds to improve yield and reduce pathogen risks.
Smaller ponds help contain economic losses during disease outbreaks.
Each cycle lasts 4–6 months, after which ponds are dried and cleaned.
Disease Control in Prawn Aquaculture
Bacterial infections like Vibrio harveyi and viral outbreaks such as white spot syndrome can cause up to 25% annual losses in yield.
Control Measures:
Farmers cover ponds with plastic nets to prevent crow-borne contamination.
Probiotics such as Bacillus bacteria are added to outcompete harmful pathogens without harming prawns.
ICAR-CIBA in Chennai has developed 'specific pathogen free' broodstock, reared in biosecure environments and certified to be disease-free.
Phage therapy uses bacteriophage viruses that specifically target Vibrio bacteria without harming other organisms.
Government's Initiatives Related to Seafood Production
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
Marine Products Export Development Authority
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