India, known as the world’s top exporter of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), is embarking on a strategic shift in its shrimp farming landscape, considering a return to cultivating black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) to diversify its offerings and mitigate challenges faced by its shrimp industry.
Once a cornerstone of India’s coastal aquaculture, black tiger shrimp farming experienced a decline in recent years due to prevalent diseases that deterred investment and expansion. The advent of whiteleg shrimp in 2009 provided a viable alternative with higher productivity and better disease resilience, leading to a significant transition within the Indian shrimp farming community. However, this shift left black tiger shrimp production dwindling, reaching a mere 38,000 metric tons (MT) in the latest fiscal year, starkly contrasting the robust production levels exceeding 100,000 MT seen in the early 2010s.
India’s pivot to whiteleg shrimp proved lucrative, establishing the nation as the foremost exporter to the United States, where it captured a substantial market share for five consecutive years. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic inflicted severe disruptions on India’s shrimp sector, causing a notable decline in production and exports. Despite retaining its position as the primary shrimp exporter to the U.S., India grappled with reduced exports in 2020 and encountered exacerbated challenges in 2021 due to the pandemic’s lingering effects on the industry.
In response to these adversities, shrimp industry analyst Willem van der Pijl advocates for a resurgence in black tiger shrimp farming within India. He underscores diminishing profitability in whiteleg shrimp cultivation, attributable to declining prices and escalating disease concerns, rendering many farmers financially strained.
While some farmers have embraced the transition back to black tiger shrimp farming, others remain apprehensive due to the scarcity of specific pathogen-free (SPF) black tiger broodstock. To address this critical supply constraint, the Indian government authorized select international suppliers, namely Moana Technologies from Hawaii and Aquaculture de la Mahajambre from Madagascar, to furnish SPF black tiger broodstock to Indian farmers. These partnerships, facilitated through Indian hatcheries, have initiated deliveries of broodstock to local farmers, with plans for ramped-up production in the near future.
Van der Pijl suggests that increased black tiger shrimp production in India could unlock lucrative markets in Europe, Japan, and China. European buyers express readiness to consider Indian black tiger shrimp provided they meet stringent quality standards and remain competitive in pricing. Japan, a significant importer of Indian black tiger shrimp, has relaxed inspection restrictions, bolstering prospects for expanded exports. Furthermore, China emerges as a promising market, particularly if Indian producers adeptly brand and market their products to align with Chinese preferences and expectations.
As India navigates this transition back to black tiger shrimp farming, stakeholders are cautiously optimistic about revitalizing this sector and broadening India’s shrimp export portfolio. The industry’s adaptability and resilience, coupled with strategic initiatives to address key challenges, position India to reclaim its prominence in global shrimp markets through diversified offerings and sustainable growth.