The Kerala government in India has taken the initiative to convene a meeting of affected parties, including fishermen, boat owners, exporters, and officials, to discuss ways to mitigate the impact of the US ban on the export of wild-caught shrimp from India. The meeting is scheduled to take place on July 24.

A Ban with Devastating Consequences

In 2019, the US imposed a ban on importing wild-caught shrimps from India, citing concerns that protected sea turtles were getting entangled in fishing nets. This ban is still in effect, and its consequences are being felt by the Indian shrimp industry. The ban has led to a significant drop in prices in the domestic market, causing a major setback for the fisheries sector.

According to Charles George, leader of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikyavedi, many exporters have been forced to shut down their businesses due to the US ban. “This is a huge crisis for us,” he said. “We need a solution to this problem urgently.”

Industry Officials Pin Hope on New Mechanism

Last year, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India and the US were working on a mechanism that would allow Indian fishermen to export shrimps to American consumers. While this development offers some hope for the industry, it remains unclear when this mechanism will come into effect.