The Shrimp Crisis:How U.S. Policy is Sinking Kerala’s Fishermen While Andhra Thrives | Santosh Mathew

Kerala’s tranquil backwaters and sprawling coastline have long supported a thriving shrimp industry. However, the United States’ stringent restrictions on shrimp imports, aimed at conserving sea turtles, have cast a dark shadow over the traditional fishermen and shrimp industry in Kerala. While aquaculture-dominated regions like Andhra Pradesh are faring better, Kerala’s sea-based shrimp fishers are bearing the brunt of this policy. India exports approximately ₹67,000 crore worth of fish products annually, with shrimp accounting for ₹2,000 crore, of which ₹1,500 crore comes from Kerala. The impact of the U.S. ban extends beyond financial losses. Countries importing shrimp from India are now purchasing at lower prices, exacerbating the crisis.

The U.S. ban on shrimp imports from India stems from allegations that the fishing nets used in shrimp boats lack Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). TEDs are metal devices with rings installed at the neck of trawl nets to direct shrimp into the sack section while guiding sea turtles through a door on the device. The U.S. claims that the absence of TEDs leads to the accidental capture and death of sea turtles, thereby threatening their population. Indian authorities contest this allegation. Since 1972, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act has included sea turtles in the list of threatened species, ensuring their protection. Despite this, the U.S. did not acknowledge these arguments, resulting in the ban’s imposition in 2019.

In contrast to Kerala’s traditional sea-based shrimp fishing, Andhra Pradesh has developed a robust aquaculture industry. Shrimp farming in controlled environments has allowed Andhra Pradesh to maintain its export levels despite the U.S. restrictions. The state contributes 40% of India’s total shrimp exports, thriving on its ability to cultivate shrimp in ponds, free from the concerns that plague sea-based fishing methods. Aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh benefits from government incentives and technological advancements that ensure high yields and compliance with international standards. The state’s focus on sustainable shrimp farming has insulated it from the immediate effects of the U.S. ban. The central government’s budgetary support for shrimp farming is largely seen as influenced by Andhra Pradesh’s strong lobbying efforts.

The U.S. ban has far-reaching repercussions for Kerala. Before the ban, sea shrimp accounted for about 30% of India’s shrimp export share. The ban has caused India to incur an annual loss of approximately ₹3,500 crore. Simultaneously, Japan’s economic downturn also contributed to price drops, and countries like China, Vietnam, and Thailand have taken advantage of purchasing Indian shrimp at lower prices and selling them to other countries. This crisis has severely impacted domestic markets in key shrimp-fishing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal. The price of popular Poovalan shrimp dropped from ₹200-250 to ₹80-100 per kilogram, Nara shrimp from ₹400 to ₹200, Kara shrimp from ₹600-700 to ₹400-450, Kilantan from ₹250 to ₹100, and Karikkadi from ₹250 to ₹150. This drastic drop in prices has affected the livelihood of fishermen and related workers, plunging them into financial instability. Kerala’s backwaters serve as natural nurseries for all commercially important shrimp species except Karikkadi shrimp. These backwaters are crucial for the completion of the shrimp lifecycle. Shrimp species like Narayan, Kara, Kilantan, Choodan, Kuzhikkar, and Poovalan grow in these backwaters for three to six months, making these regions significant production centres for shrimp wealth and a primary livelihood source for traditional fishermen.

Annually, about 12,000 tons of shrimp are caught mainly using traditional fishing methods like Chinese nets, drag nets, scoop nets, and casting nets, supporting around 20,000 fishermen. The allegation of sea turtles being endangered due to trawl nets is baseless. Of the five species of sea turtles found in India, except the Loggerhead, Olive, Green, Hawksbill, and Leatherback turtles nest on beaches.

In Western states, the number of turtles reaching nesting sites annually is less than ten, whereas in states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, the numbers are respectively 100,000, 1,000,1,500, 50, and 100. TEDs need to be installed on trawl nets in these states, but such measures in Western states would further pressure fishermen. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, India earned ₹60,521 crore in foreign exchange through the export of a record 1,78,162 metric tons of marine products. Frozen shrimp contributed ₹40,013 crore, accounting for 40% of total export value, with 34.4% of the value amounting to $25.49 million attributed to the U.S. share. Other major importers of frozen shrimp are China, Japan, and Vietnam. The U.S. shrimp import ban has led to a domino effect across the shrimp industry. Due to the price decline, most mechanized boats have ceased operations, affecting 218 exporters,108 freezing plants, processing facilities with a daily capacity of 4,928 tons, and over 500 peeling sheds in Kerala. This unparalleled blow to the fishing sector is increasing hunger among thousands of workers.

 Diplomatic intervention and influence from the central government are necessary for an urgent resolution. States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Gujarat, which also engage in shrimp farming and export, must unite to pressure the central government. Especially since 36% of the shrimp imported by the U.S. was from India. Additionally, the U.S. offered the best prices for Indian shrimp compared to other countries. The U.S. imported $30 million worth of shrimp annually, with 60% of that coming from Kerala. The U.S. allegation that trawl net fishing is causing sea turtle extinction in India has no scientific basis. In Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, shrimp farming predominantly involves shrimp ponds, not trawl net fishing. India has failed to adequately communicate such matters to the U.S. at a high level. Despite TEDs being used to allow turtles caught in trawl nets to escape back to the sea, the U.S. claims these nets do not meet international standards.

The U.S. shrimp import ban is a stark reminder of how international policies can devastate local economies. For Kerala’s traditional fishermen, who rely on catching shrimp from the sea, the ban has meant not just a loss of income but a threat to their very way of life. In contrast, regions like Andhra Pradesh, with their robust aquaculture industries, continue to thrive despite the restrictions. The central and state governments must work together, using diplomatic channels and scientific evidence, to challenge the ban and protect the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen.

(Author: Santhosh Mathew , Associate Professor, Centre For South Asian Studies,, School of International Studies & Social Sciences, Pondicherry Central University, India)