FAO Honours Sundarbans’ Sustainable Aquaculture Model

Sustainable Aquaculture Latest News

• The Sundarbans’ Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model has received Global Technical Recognition from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The Sundarbans: A Fragile Ecosystem of Global Importance

• The Sundarbans, spanning India and Bangladesh, is the world’s largest mangrove delta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• The Indian portion, located primarily in West Bengal, covers nearly 9,630 square kilometres and supports millions of people who depend on fishing, aquaculture, honey collection, and agriculture for their livelihoods.
• However, this region is increasingly threatened by climate change, rising sea levels, soil salinity, and land-use change. 
• Frequent cyclones like Amphan and Yaas, coupled with unregulated aquaculture and deforestation, have severely impacted both biodiversity and human livelihoods. 
• In this context, the integration of mangrove conservation with sustainable economic activities has emerged as a key model for resilience and adaptation.

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Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems: A Climate-Resilient Model

• The Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) initiative, developed by the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), represents a pioneering approach to balancing livelihood needs with ecological conservation. 
• Implemented in the Sundarbans region of North and South 24 Parganas districts, the project has demonstrated that sustainable shrimp farming can coexist with mangrove restoration.
• Under this model, aquaculture ponds maintain 5%-30% mangrove coverage, ensuring that biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection are integrated into shrimp farming practices. 
• The mangrove litter also serves as natural fodder, replacing expensive chemical feed and thus reducing production costs significantly.
• After years of implementation across 29.84 hectares by 42 fish farmers, the average net profit per farmer increased by over 100%, highlighting the model’s financial viability. 

FAO’s Global Recognition of the Sundarbans Model

• On October 15, 2025, during its 80th Anniversary and World Food Forum held in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations conferred Global Technical Recognition on the SAIME model.
• The recognition highlights how a community-based, nature-integrated model can contribute to climate resilience, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity conservation. 

Balancing Livelihoods with Mangrove Conservation

• The Sundarbans have seen rapid land-use transformation over recent decades, with unregulated shrimp monoculture leading to widespread mangrove destruction. 
• The SAIME model was conceptualised as a counter-narrative to exploitative aquaculture practices, promoting an ecosystem-based and community-driven framework.
• The project involves community participation at every stage, from pond management to mangrove plantation, ensuring that conservation efforts are locally owned and socially inclusive. 
• Farmers are trained in Good Aquaculture Practices (GAPs), including maintaining water quality, using organic inputs, and avoiding antibiotics or synthetic feed.
• This integrated approach has multiple benefits:
  • Environmental: Mangroves act as natural buffers against cyclones and tidal surges, reducing coastal erosion and supporting marine biodiversity.
  • Economic: Reduced input costs and improved yields have doubled farmer income.
  • Social: Community participation fosters environmental stewardship and local empowerment.
  • Climate: Enhanced mangrove coverage aids in carbon sequestration, supporting India’s broader climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Broader Significance for India’s Blue Economy

• India’s coastal regions are highly vulnerable to climate risks, and unsustainable aquaculture has often undermined long-term ecological balance. 
• The SAIME model aligns closely with the Government of India’s Blue Economy Policy, which seeks to integrate marine resource sustainability with economic development.
• It also resonates with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
  • SDG 1 (No Poverty) – through livelihood diversification;
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action) – via carbon sequestration and coastal resilience;
  • SDG 14 (Life Below Water) – promoting sustainable use of marine resources; and
  • SDG 15 (Life on Land) – through mangrove restoration and habitat protection.
• Experts suggest that similar models could be replicated in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala, where shrimp farming is economically significant but ecologically challenging.

Way Forward

• The FAO’s recognition of the Sundarbans aquaculture model underscores the need to scale up community-based, climate-resilient aquaculture systems across India’s coastal belts. Policymakers can leverage this model to:
  • Integrate mangrove conservation into all aquaculture policies.
  • Incentivise farmers adopting sustainable practices through carbon credit mechanisms.
  • Promote training and capacity-building among coastal communities.
• Such initiatives can help India transition toward a low-carbon, biodiversity-friendly, and inclusive blue economy, aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship.

Source: TH