In a significant move to reform global aquaculture, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) have unveiled a new roadmap aimed at enhancing sustainability in the shrimp industry. This initiative is particularly focused on the shrimp sector in Andhra Pradesh, India, and is supported by a grant from the Walmart Foundation.
The interactive roadmap provides a clear strategy for aligning stakeholders and promoting innovative solutions across regions. It combines insights from local farms with broader landscape and jurisdictional initiatives, addressing key challenges in the sector.
“The landscape approaches elevate the environmental and social performance of the region,” said Jill Swasey, ASC’s Director of Impacts. “This must rely on local expertise and organisations working in the sector.”
Aquaculture, a rapidly growing sector, currently sees only 51% of its production certified against recognised sustainability standards. The roadmap emphasises the importance of collaboration between farmers, the government, NGOs, and the private sector to improve environmental and social conditions in shared areas.
SFP’s CEO, Jim Cannon, stated that engaging local institutions is crucial for long-term success. He remarked, “Everything we do in-country should be done by local institutions; they will be there long after you’re gone.”
The roadmap highlights shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh, a region producing nearly 1 million metric tonnes of shrimp annually. As the state’s aquaculture area is anticipated to grow significantly by 2030, the initiative aims to balance this expansion with the needs of local ecosystems and communities.
The roadmap serves as a practical guide for collective, adaptive, and inclusive approaches to sustainability in shrimp farming, ultimately striving for a resilient future for both the environment and the industry.
