Odisha targets Rs 15,000 crore seafood exports with new Shrimp Policy

In a push to invigorate the blue economy and transform Odisha into a leading shrimp-producing and exporting hub, the State Cabinet on Wednesday approved a comprehensive regulatory framework and operational guidelines for shrimp aquaculture, targeting a threefold increase in seafood exports to Rs 15,000 crore by 2036.

The decision, taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, aims to promote the scientific and sustainable culture of white-leg shrimp and other brackish-water species in inland saline areas located 2 km to 10 km from the high-tide line, beyond the jurisdiction of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA).

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The newly approved framework establishes a scientific, environmentally sustainable, and well-regulated system for aquaculture development in inland saline waters.

It mandates the online registration of shrimp farms, scientific site selection, stringent biosecurity measures, disease surveillance, regular water quality monitoring, and the installation of Effluent Treatment Systems (ETS) to ensure environmentally responsible farming practices.

The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department will oversee the implementation of the policy and ensure the registration of all farms through an online platform.

The framework also promotes cluster-based aquaculture development with common infrastructure and the adoption of advanced technologies to improve productivity, strengthen biosecurity, and encourage the sustainable expansion of shrimp farming.

The policy will serve as the foundation for the proposed Odisha Shrimp Mission under the State’s Blue Economy initiative and is expected to significantly enhance production, exports, and rural livelihoods.

The initiative will facilitate the development of an additional 25,000 hectares under shrimp farming, raising annual shrimp production from the current 1.6 lakh metric tonnes to 9 lakh metric tonnes. It is also projected to increase annual seafood exports from about Rs 5,429 crore to Rs 15,000 crore by 2036 while creating livelihood opportunities for nearly 2.5 lakh people.

The Government has also set a long-term vision of making Odisha one of the country’s leading shrimp-producing and exporting states by 2047, with fisheries and aquaculture emerging as key drivers of economic growth, export earnings, and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, officials said.