India has incurred significant financial losses amounting to $500 million over the past five years due to a U.S. ban on its wild caught shrimp exports. This prohibition stems from U.S. regulations aimed at protecting sea turtles, as wild caught shrimp fishing often leads to incidental capture of these endangered creatures in India.
A recent report, presented by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in collaboration with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, highlighted the severe impact of this ban on the livelihoods of Indian fishermen. The U.S. law prohibits the import of wild caught shrimp from fisheries that negatively impact marine wildlife, particularly sea turtles in India.
To address this, India has developed two designs of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) for trawl nets, meeting the technical standards of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These devices are intended to reduce turtle mortality by allowing them to escape from the nets. One of these designs has already been approved by NOAA, and field demonstrations are ongoing across maritime states to educate stakeholders about the importance of TEDs.
The report also stressed the need for India to establish a regulatory program focused on conserving marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and dugongs, in line with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Failing to comply with these regulations could jeopardize the export of all wild-caught marine products to the U.S.
Indian marine scientists have argued that traditional fishing practices in India already include methods to reduce interactions between marine mammals and fisheries, underscoring the cultural importance of protecting turtles within the Indian fishing community. However, further efforts are necessary to align with international conservation standards and restore access to the lucrative U.S. market.
