Shrimp Leads the Export Surge

Of the total export earnings in FY 2024-25, Tk 2,499 crore (USD 206.5 million) came from 19,512.79 tonnes of shrimp exports alone, up from 15,450.97 tonnes in FY 2023-24, which earned Tk 1,744 crore (USD 144.1 million).

Meanwhile, export earnings from other fish varieties rose from Tk 402 crore (USD 33.2 million) for 9,745.78 tonnes in FY 2023-24 to Tk 610 crore (USD 50.4 million) for 15,363.58 tonnes in FY 2024-25.

Species-wise Earnings Breakdown

The detailed breakdown for FY 2024-25 includes:

• Galda / Freshwater Giant Prawn: Tk 734.50 crore (USD 60.7 million) from 4,282.14 tonnes
• Bagda / Black Tiger shrimp: Tk 1,691.69 crore (USD 139.8 million) from 13,963.11 tonnes
• Soft shell Crab: Tk 173.27 crore (USD 14.3 million) from 1,166.89 tonnes

By comparison, in FY 2023-24:

• Galda shrimp exports brought in Tk 420.43 crore (USD 34.7 million) from 2,883.30 tonnes
• Bagda shrimp earned Tk 1,311.21 crore (USD 108.4 million) from 11,336.54 tonnes
• Soft shell Crab exports were Tk 97.87 crore (USD 8.1 million) from 644.77 tonnes

Challenges Holding Back Production

Despite the growth, the sector has faced several persistent hurdles — a decline in brackish water sources, virus outbreaks, lack of SPF (disease-free) shrimp fries, and farmers’ reluctance to adopt modern techniques. According to industry estimates, these challenges have caused production shortfalls that deprived the country of USD 25–41 million (Tk 300–500 crore) in potential export earnings.

Adding to the pressure, rising feed prices have increased input costs for farmers, further impacting profitability.

Government Support Fuels Renewed Hope

The government has been taking proactive steps, including promoting cluster farming methods, vannamei shrimp cultivation, environment-friendly aquaculture, and massive farmer training and incentives.

Farmer testimonies reflect growing optimism. Harun-ur-Rashid from Koyra Upazila credits the adequate rainfall and government virus prevention efforts for improved yields. Sheikh Mahtab Uddin from Dumuria noted that training programs, quality feed, and natural water bodies have helped increase fish production.

Previously, political interference and land grabbing disrupted shrimp farming activities in many areas. However, with improved governance and proper government action, farmers are returning to the business.

A Sector at a Crossroads

Inspector Lipton Sarder from the Khulna FIQC office noted that while shrimp production has been declining nationwide over the past five years, recent government steps have started reversing the trend. He emphasized the importance of cluster method aquaculture and the adoption of modern, sustainable farming practices.

Industry leader Sheikh Abdul Baki of Oriental Fish Processing Industries highlighted that quality inputs, natural water resources, and cluster farming are key to future success.

According to Md Zahangir Alam, Deputy Director of the Khulna Fisheries Department, the production and export of all categories — white fish (freshwater fishes), Galda, Bagda, and crabs — have increased notably in FY2024-25.

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Today, the company’s operations extend far beyond transporting up to 70,000 shipping containers annually between Turkey and Israel. Tiran Group is deeply involved in aquaculture, specializing in the breeding of red tilapia fish in Israel and freshwater prawns in Asia, specifically China and Vietnam.

Haim Avioz, the visionary founder of Israeli Tiran Group, emphasized the rising global demand for seafood, primarily driven by consumers in Asia, home to over 60% of the world’s population. As the fishing industry faces a crisis due to overfishing and climate change, aquatech, or farming with innovative technology, is seen as a sustainable solution and the future of seafood production.

“We are already active with prawn farms in China, Vietnam, and Singapore,” Mr. Avioz, also the CEO of Tiran and New Horizon, revealed. “We are already selling our products to Cambodia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, and more, and are exploring markets in Indonesia, India, and the Philippines.”

China alone presents a colossal demand for newly hatched prawns worth more than US$100 billion annually, but only US$5 billion of this demand is currently met. Tiran Group aims to bridge this gap.

In Singapore, Tiran is collaborating with Opal Resources Farm to breed and sell male-only freshwater prawns. This innovation is driven by a unique technology developed at the National Institute of Biotechnology at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. The patented technology employs gene silencing without hormones, chemicals, or genetic modifications, resulting in a higher yield of male prawns with minimal mortality rates.

Economic analysis demonstrates that an all-male prawn population generates approximately 60% more income compared to mixed or all-female populations. Male prawns grow significantly larger than their female counterparts, a fact that contributes to their increased economic value.

Singapore was strategically chosen as Tiran’s base due to its global and regional connectivity, which ensures shorter delivery times to target markets and lower air freight costs. Singapore’s straightforward regulatory environment further solidified the decision.

Furthermore, Mr. Avioz has initiated discussions with the Singapore Food Agency to collaborate on water-saving fish farming systems. Tiran’s aquaculture farm in Nir David, Israel, producing 150 tonnes of seafood per year, is a model that Singapore can replicate. This efficient operation uses patented MegaFlow Technology, which introduces fresh air into water while removing carbon dioxide.

Tiran Group is also exploring partnerships for water treatment with Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing Board, incorporating the NUF membrane, known for its water purification capabilities.

Despite facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted overseas expansion plans, Tiran Group is experiencing a strong rebound in demand from the region. Prior to the pandemic, seafood contributed around US$1 million annually to Tiran’s revenue. With the current resurgence in demand, it is expected to reach US$5 million to US$10 million annually in the next two to three years.

One of Tiran’s prominent markets is Thailand, well-known for its love of giant prawns, considered a delicacy. Bangladesh, an emerging market, holds the potential to push the group’s sales beyond US$20 million annually, and discussions are underway with interested parties in Indonesia.

In a significant development, Zhuhai Agricultural Investment Holding Group signed US$3 million worth of deals with Tiran at the 3rd China-Israel Investment Summit. The collaboration aims to incubate high-tech agricultural projects. Zhuhai CLZ Investment, a subsidiary of Zhuhai Agricultural Investment Holding Group, will jointly cultivate all-male giant freshwater prawn larvae and young prawns.

The rise of aquatech and food tech companies like Tiran Group underscores the global significance of innovation in meeting food security challenges. As Israeli Ambassador to Singapore Eli Vered Hazan observed, Israel’s history of innovation driven by survival constraints has paved the way for transformative technologies in aquatech and food tech, benefiting not only itself but also other countries striving to enhance their food security.

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The development of the genetically improved strain involved a meticulous 14-generation breeding program, which sourced scampi populations from various regions of India, including Gujarat, Kerala, and Odisha, from 2008 to 2020. This effort culminated in the successful registration of the CIFA-GI Scampi in 2020.

With support from the Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme, the Department of Fisheries sanctioned a project worth US$0.5 million to scale up the genetic improvement program in 2021. This funding facilitated the expansion of infrastructure facilities for producing new generations of CIFA-GI Scampi. Dr. Bindu R. Pillai, the Principal Investigator of the Scampi Project, expressed optimism about the potential of this improved strain for fish farming in inland waters, as its harvest period spans seven months, promising significant returns.

The multiplier hatcheries, supported by the PMMSY funding, have the capacity to produce around 400 million scampi seeds from the supplied brood seed. This increased production capability could potentially expand the production area from 12,500 to 25,000 hectares. As a result, CIFA expects that greater awareness of the economic benefits of CIFA-GI Scampi among the farming community will further boost its production. Already, in the year 2021-22, scampi production in the country has seen a remarkable 2.5-fold increase, rising from 8,303 tons to 21,317 tons.

To support the rapid expansion of scampi farming, ICAR has selected five scampi hatcheries as multiplier hatcheries responsible for producing CIFA-GI Scampi seeds and supplying them to farmers. Furthermore, there are plans to add more hatcheries to the network, with the ambitious goal of bringing 25,000 hectares under scampi farming by the year 2026, as per P.K. Sahoo, the Director of ICAR-CIFA. With these efforts, it is hoped that the genetically improved CIFA-GI Scampi will reclaim its popularity among food lovers and revitalize the freshwater prawn farming industry in India.

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Sundarbans is the world’s biggest mangrove forest, located partially in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and partly in Bangladesh. A delta between the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and the Bay of Bengal covers 30% of the forest.

Water and soil salinity in the Sundarbans’ area has grown considerably, with forecasts that several portions of the region might reach near ocean-level salinity by 2050. Because of significant siltation, sea level rise, climate change, and excessive aquaculture activities, salt levels in the Sundarbans have been continuously increasing.

Cyclones rose by 26% in the Bay of Bengal around the Sundarbans between 1881 and 2001. Furthermore, research has shown that the incidence of very severe cyclones in the post-monsoon season has increased significantly between 2000 and 2018.

“Salinity has grown at an alarming rate due to sea-level rise, storms, and land subsidence. The Sundarbans terrain is predicted to fragment significantly as a result of climate change, resulting in habitat loss for many endangered species.,” said Tuhin Ghosh, Associate Professor at Jadavpur University’s School of Oceanographic Studies.

Furthermore, shrimp farming has been the most brutal destruction of vast portions of Sundarbans. The number of shrimp ponds created around the outer edge for harvesting shrimp fry reduces the reserve site of the mangrove forest.

Vannamei shrimp, a non-native species, have been substituted with freshwater prawns, which flourish in the newly restored habitat. The rigorous fishing strain feed on prawn fry as well as other essential revering species that breed in coastal areas. It also degrades the environment of coastal habitats.

“The fast spread of brackish-water aquaculture in the Sundarbans create risks on long-term implications such as increased salinity, diminished biodiversity, and socioeconomic impacts,” said Tim Daw, a researcher at Stockholm Resilience Centre, who is one of the authors behind a study recently published in Ambio.

To combat such dire conditions, the Indian government has made a brave initiative. As a result, the excavation of the creeks began. The government, on the other hand, got World Bank assistance to expand the excavation operations.

However, creek excavation has improved the flow of fresh water, reduced salinity, and revolutionized farming patterns. 

The creeks increased water and sediment channelization has improved water flow and reduced stagnant pools where salt accumulated. These creeks additionally avoid salt water from getting into freshwater systems. Sediment removal from creeks helps to reduce accumulated salts, improving water quality.  The creeks also allowed for the growth of giant prawns, commonly known as ‘galda chingri’.

The Indian Sundarbans region has definitely recovered as a result of its embrace of this sustainable creek excavation initiative.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

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