Aquaculture

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

In Context

• India, with its extensive coastline and inland water resources, has emerged as a global leader in aquaculture. Over the past two decades, India has made remarkable progress, especially in prawn farming, balancing both economic and nutritional goals.

What is Aquaculture?

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

India’s Remarkable Progress in Aquaculture

• India is currently:
  • 3rd largest producer of aquaculture products globally.
  • 2nd in the world for prawn production.
  • 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-value species is farmed across suitable coastal regions and is in strong demand for both domestic consumption and export.

Factors Behind India’s High Growth in Aquaculture

• Geographic and Natural Advantages: Long coastline (11,098km) and abundant brackish water zones.
  • Coastal groundwater and tidal access aid water salinity control (10–25g/L needed for prawn farming).
• Innovative Farming Techniques: Promotion of smaller ponds (e.g., in Andhra Pradesh) for better yield and disease control.
  • Controlled pond management and salinity balancing through brackish water and river water mixing.
• Private and Institutional Collaboration: Research support from institutions like ICAR-CIBA, which developed ‘specific pathogen free’ broodstock.
  • Growth of aquafeed industries and labs for disease 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 variations, and extreme weather events affecting production cycles.
• Infrastructure and Resource Gaps: Need for improved access to testing labs, biosecure hatcheries, and cold chain logistics in remote regions.

Key Government and Research Initiatives

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

Way Ahead

• To sustain the growth and make aquaculture climate-resilient, India needs to:
  • Scale biosecure hatcheries and expand SPF broodstock production.
  • 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: TH