Sustainable Aquaculture in Sundarbans

On the back drop of our overall objective of conservation we are addressing some major issues through this project:

• Reducing wild seed collection and subsequently reducing bycatch in and around Sundarbans region.
• Promotion of Sustainable aquaculture in the Sundarbans region.
• Facilitating the process of organic shrimp farming/certified shrimps.

This project also helped us in identifying the key issues of concern (Refer to Annexure 1 from right hand download box) which we are already sharing and discussing with the stakeholders at the grassroots level. Furthermore, state level workshops helped us in addressing the policy makers, shrimp processors/exporters and shrimp farmers.

Major Workshops

1. Based on inputs from research report, further field work and extensive interaction with stakeholders across the entire value chain of the shrimp industry in the Sundarbans was carried out which resulted a dialogue on "Eco-labelling and Certification Practices for Shrimp Aquaculture” (Refer to Annexure 2 from right hand download box in the top) held on April 12, 2007, at Kolkata. Primary aim of this dialogue was to address the processors and exporters based in West Bengal. Seventeen major farmed shrimp processors/exporters and five senior administrators along with two media personnel participated in the dialogue. The dialogue facilitated and provided an opportunity to understand the global shrimp market and to ensure sustainable shrimp practices at the field level.
2. A field workshop on promotion of sustainable aquaculture in Sundarbans region was jointly organised by WWF-India and MPEDA (The Marine Products Export Development Authority, India) March 5, 2008.
3. A concluding workshop was organised on “Policy Dialogue for Promoting Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture in the Sundarbans” (Refer to Annexure 3 from right hand download box in the top) held on December 19, 2007 at Kolkata. Senior policy makers, administrators, representatives of various government as well as non government agencies from West Bengal as well as other Coastal States participated. Primary issues of concern and project outcomes presented were acceptable to the participants and commitment to address those issues received.

Development Policy Briefs

Policy brief (Refer to Annexure 4 from right hand download box in the top) and other outreach materials like posters and booklets prepared on the basis of inputs received from policy dialogues, workshops, meetings/field meetings and field demonstrations. Policy brief for policy makers and other institutions as well as posters prepared for shrimp farmers disseminated.

Engagement with stakeholders
Networking with government organisations, inter-governmental organisations, senior administrators, policy makers, local partner organisations as well as primary stakeholders at the grassroots level has been possible through outreach project. Working relationships established with multiple non government and governmental agencies established. This is expected to help us taking forward this project to a logical conclusion in coming months.

Some of the major stakeholders/project partners include:

1. Department of fisheries
2. Sundarban Development Board
3. The Marine Products Export Development Authority
4. Export Inspection Council (EIC)
5. Forest Department
6. National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture
7. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
8. Orissa Shrimp Seed Production Supply and Research Centre
9. Sea Food Exporters Association
10. Local as well as regional administration
11. Community based organisations (CBO)

Demonstration Farming
After identifying the major constraints towards practice of sustainable aquaculture and reducing bycatch in Sundarbans region, it was strongly felt that field demonstration is essential to bridge outreach and advocacy gaps. Subsequently a participatory field demonstration was undertook which attempted to promote the following aspect of shrimp aquaculture:

1. Advantages of scientific shrimp farming and better management practices.
2. Benefits of using good quality tested and certified tiger shrimp seeds purchased from hatchery over seeds collected from wild (Sundarbans).
3. Registration, cooperative formation, traceability, marketing and proper price realization.

Demonstration project on promoting sustainable aquaculture and usage of hatchery based tested and certified shrimp seeds rather than shrimp seeds collected from wild is successfully completed between January- June, 2008. A booklet on “Sustainable shrimp aquaculture project in Sundarbans” containing demonstration project outcome has been prepared.

This project foresees tangible benefits for the sensitive ecoregion of Sundarbans which include:

1. Better natural resource usage and reducing wasteful use in aqua farming sector.
2. Reducing demand for wild tiger shrimp seeds collected from Sundarbans and subsequent reduction in by catch.