Gujarat aims to catch US shrimp orders with turtle-safe nets

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government is set to install turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in fishermen’s fishing nets, which it expects would help address the reason cited by the US for banning imports of wild-caught shrimp from India.

The move is aimed at boosting Gujarat’s seafood exports to the US and other global markets, state fisheries minister Jitu Vaghani said. Under this initiative, 8,925 fishermen in the state will receive TED free of cost with government assistance. The ₹20.96 crore project will help protect marine biodiversity and create greater opportunities for the state’s seafood industry in global markets, Vaghani said.

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The US banned import of wild-caught shrimp from India citing concerns about commercial fishing equipment causing injury and death to sea turtles. Use of TED is expected to reduce this risk and make it easier to obtain international certifications required for exports.

According to the state government, Gujarat received the approval for the highest number of TED units among states under a central programme.

The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Kochi, which comes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, developed the specialised TED model in line with standards set by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This device is a special mechanism fitted into shrimp trawl nets. It allows shrimp to be retained while giving larger marine animals, such as sea turtles, a safe escape route through an exit flap. This device is expected to significantly reduce sea turtle deaths during fishing operations.