Future Prospects

With the liberalized industrial policy of the Indian government and the revised customs/excise tariff, the private sector has received encouragement for participation in aquaculture. This has also encouraged foreign collaboration. 

Moreover, along the entire coast, a large number of integrated shrimp farming units with hatcheries and processing plants are springing up. Several corporate houses have also ventured into aquaculture in a big way. Ideal climatic conditions and abundant natural resources available in the country have also contributed to the growth of the fisheries sector in India. 

Out of a total of 12 lakh hectares of cultivable water area available, only 82,500 hectares are presently under shrimp farming. At present, scientific farming is being done in just 32,500 hectares. The employment potential, therefore, is tremendous. 

If even one lakh hectare area is developed for shrimp farming, it can provide direct employment to two lakh people, and indirect employment for another three to five lakh, in allied activities such as hatchery operations, seed production, processing, and marketing.