The Union agriculture ministry has finally granted permission to cultivate the Litopenaeus Vannamei species of shrimp in India, a long-pending demand of aquaculture and seafood export industry of the country.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries under the ministry has notified the guidelines for import of the species and for cultivating it in India. A separate notification carries the guidelines for hatchery production and culture of the species.

The CAA, in consultation with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) and Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), would shortlist the overseas suppliers based on the genetic base and disease status. Import of broodstock will be permitted only from such suppliers.

Chennai will be the designated port of entry for the imported broodstock, according to the guidelines. There will be an inspection of the consignment by the Animal Quarantine Officer before it is despatched to the quarantine facility.

The department has also given a direction to constitute monitoring committees at various levels to inspect the farms in which the imported shrimp would be cultivated.

Litopenaeus Vannmei shrimp is a native species from South America and is being cultivated widely in various Asian countries like China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Almost 90 per cent of the world’s shrimp aquaculture production is of Vannamei species, thanks to its lower production cost. It is just half the cost of production for Monodon species like Black Tiger and Indicus, which are commonly cultivated in India.

Due to the advent of low-cost species, prices of shrimp in advanced economies like the US and European Union (EU) dropped substantially and India lost its major traditional markets like the US and EU in recent years.

The seafood export industry has been actively pressing for the introduction of this species for the last 24 months. Vannamei production will be possible only by capital intensive aquafarms involving substantial power requirement as these species are viable only under intensive culture.

In India, only 20 per cent of the shrimp aquaculture farms are currently equipped with such facilities.

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