After a four-year-long ban, there is hope on the horizon for Indian wild caught shrimp exporters as the United States administration contemplates lifting the ban. A team of experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the scientific and regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce, is scheduled to visit Kochi on February 19. Their mission is to evaluate and potentially grant final approval to the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) developed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), based in Kochi.

The History of the Ban

The ban on Indian wild caught shrimp was imposed by the US administration in response to concerns over unregulated fishing activities that posed a threat to endangered turtle species. Specifically, sea turtles were getting caught in trawl gears, pelagic long liners, gill nets, and shrimp trawl gears in coastal waters. To address this issue, a US law introduced in May 1996 restricted the imports of shrimp harvested with fishing equipment that did not have TEDs in place.

The Turtle Excluder Device (TED) is a crucial innovation designed to protect sea turtles. TEDs are specialized tools installed in trawl nets to allow sea turtles to escape when accidentally caught, thereby reducing unintentional harm to these endangered species. To regain access to the lucrative US shrimp market, it is essential for the TED developed by CIFT to meet the stringent requirements and standards set by the NOAA experts.

The Path to Ban Lifting

If the US experts grant their final approval to the TED developed by CIFT, the next steps will be crucial. Coastal states in India will need to encourage trawl boat owners to adopt and implement the new device as part of their fishing practices. Furthermore, the Ministry of Fisheries will need to submit a compliance report to the US administration.

The potential lifting of the ban on Indian wild caught shrimp holds promising prospects for the Indian shrimp industry. It would ensure better prices for Indian shrimp in the international market, ultimately leading to increased revenue for fishermen. However, achieving this outcome will require cooperation from various stakeholders, particularly state governments, which may need to provide incentives to trawl boat operators to accept and integrate the TED innovation.

Protecting Endangered Sea Turtles

The conservation of sea turtles is of paramount importance, as they are listed as critically endangered or threatened on the World Conservation Union Red List. The presence of TEDs in shrimp trawl nets contributes significantly to reducing accidental turtle bycatch, thus safeguarding these precious marine creatures.

The Indian shrimp industry awaits their decision with optimism, hopeful that responsible and sustainable fishing practices can soon resume.