India to subsidize turtle excluder devices for fishermen

The Indian Union government is set to introduce a subsidy program for turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in fishing nets. This plan has been positively received by the seafood industry, which has faced challenges since the US banned wild-caught shrimp imports from India six years ago. The ban arose due to concerns about the accidental catch of sea turtles. At a recent fisheries business meeting held by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), sources indicated that the subsidy will help fishermen install TEDs. The funding will be shared between the Union and State governments, with a 60:40 split. The TEDs, developed by CIFT and costing around ₹25,000 each, have been approved by US authorities. Since the US ban, India’s seafood industry has lost approximately US$300 million annually. Wild-caught shrimp is a high-value product, even though it makes up a smaller part of India’s total shrimp exports. In the 2023-24 period, India exported nearly 1.8 million tonnes of seafood worth US$7.38 billion, with frozen shrimp comprising the largest portion. K. N. Raghavan, Secretary General of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, highlighted the need for improved value addition in the industry. He also emphasized the necessity for an additional quarantine center, as India currently relies on just one.