The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is developing pathogen-free shrimp at Port Blair in the Andamans. Its is the first such project in the country.
According to Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) sources, the MPEDA aims at matching the growing demand for shrimp broodstock (adult shrimp for breeding) for aquaculture farms across the country.
With Indian shrimp exports accounting for over half of its export earnings of $1.8 billion, the MPEDA is investigating ways to prevent future consignments from being tainted with antibiotics and rejected.
Shrimp exports to the West have become a bone of contention in the wake of ‘restrictive policies’ followed by the importing countries. Hence, the MPEDA is under pressure to develop alternative routes so that shrimp farming here becomes sustainable.
The MPEDA hopes to supply pathogen-free shrimps by end-2009.
