India sells a lot of shrimp to the United States. one reason Indian shrimp is popular is because it’s cheap. But the people who work to get that shrimp often face dangerous and unfair conditions. recently, investigators looked into this issue in a state called Andhra Pradesh in India. They found that workers there endure tough conditions while producing shrimp.
Americans eat a lot of shrimp, more than any other seafood. Most of them would prefer to buy shrimp that’s made in the United States. But because only a small amount of shrimp sold in the US is actually caught there, it’s hard to find local shrimp, and it’s usually more expensive. In the past, the US used to produce a lot of shrimp itself. But then, shrimp farming became big in Asia, especially in countries like Thailand and India. These countries started exporting a lot of shrimp to the US.
India became the top shrimp supplier to the US partly because of reports exposing bad working conditions in the Thai shrimp industry. As a result, people started looking to India for their shrimp supply. In Andhra Pradesh, journalists found that the shrimp industry was causing problems for local communities. The water and soil were being polluted by shrimp farming, making it hard for people to grow their own food.
Workers in shrimp factories often endure long hours in harsh conditions. They’re paid very little and sometimes have to pay fees just to get a job there. Many workers don’t even have proper contracts or any protection if they get hurt on the job. Despite these hardships, many workers see this work as their only option to survive.
Once the shrimp is processed in India, it’s shipped all the way to the US. It’s hard to track exactly where each shrimp goes and whether it’s been produced in a fair and ethical way. Even though some big companies say they care about human rights and the environment, they still buy shrimp from India where these issues exist.
Groups like CAL say that Indian companies need to treat their workers better and follow the laws. And US companies need to make sure they’re paying enough for shrimp so that Indian workers are treated fairly. They also say that both the Indian and US governments need to enforce these laws.
Experts say that consumers can help by being aware of where their shrimp comes from and supporting companies that prioritize fair labor practices and environmental protection.
Source: abc NEWS
