{"id":69497,"date":"2025-10-18T11:14:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T05:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=69497"},"modified":"2025-10-18T11:42:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T06:12:21","slug":"sustainable-aquaculture-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/sustainable-aquaculture-model\/","title":{"rendered":"FAO Honours Sundarbans\u2019 Sustainable Aquaculture Model"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Sustainable Aquaculture Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sundarbans\u2019 Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model has received Global Technical Recognition from the UN\u2019s Food and Agriculture Organisation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Sundarbans: A Fragile Ecosystem of Global Importance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Sundarbans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, spanning India and Bangladesh, is the world\u2019s largest mangrove delta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian portion, located primarily in <\/span><b>West Bengal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, covers nearly <\/span><b>9,630 square kilometres<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and supports millions of people who depend on fishing, aquaculture, honey collection, and agriculture for their livelihoods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this region is increasingly threatened by <\/span><b>climate change, rising sea levels, soil salinity, and land-use change<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequent cyclones like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amphan<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yaas<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, coupled with unregulated aquaculture and deforestation, have severely impacted both biodiversity and human livelihoods.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this context, the <\/span><b>integration of mangrove conservation with sustainable economic activities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has emerged as a key model for resilience and adaptation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems: A Climate-Resilient Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) initiative, developed by the <\/span><b>Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, represents a pioneering approach to balancing livelihood needs with ecological conservation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implemented in the <\/span><b>Sundarbans region of North and South 24 Parganas districts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the project has demonstrated that <\/span><b>sustainable shrimp farming can coexist with mangrove restoration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under this model, aquaculture ponds maintain <\/span><b>5%-30% mangrove coverage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring that biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection are integrated into shrimp farming practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mangrove litter also serves as natural fodder, replacing expensive chemical feed and thus <\/span><b>reducing production costs significantly<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After years of implementation across <\/span><b>29.84 hectares by 42 fish farmers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><b>average net profit per farmer increased by over 100%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, highlighting the model\u2019s financial viability.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>FAO\u2019s Global Recognition of the Sundarbans Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On <\/span><b>October 15, 2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, during its <\/span><b>80th Anniversary and World Food Forum<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> held in Rome, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/food-and-agriculture-organization\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Food and Agriculture Organisation<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the United Nations conferred <\/span><b>Global Technical Recognition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the SAIME model.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recognition highlights how a community-based, nature-integrated model can contribute to <\/span><b>climate resilience, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity conservation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Balancing Livelihoods with Mangrove Conservation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sundarbans have seen rapid land-use transformation over recent decades, with <\/span><b>unregulated shrimp monoculture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading to widespread mangrove destruction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SAIME model was conceptualised as a <\/span><b>counter-narrative to exploitative aquaculture practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, promoting an <\/span><b>ecosystem-based and community-driven<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project involves <\/span><b>community participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at every stage, from pond management to mangrove plantation, ensuring that conservation efforts are <\/span><b>locally owned and socially inclusive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmers are trained in <\/span><b>Good Aquaculture Practices (GAPs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including maintaining water quality, using organic inputs, and avoiding antibiotics or synthetic feed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This integrated approach has multiple benefits:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Environmental:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mangroves act as natural buffers against cyclones and tidal surges, reducing coastal erosion and supporting marine biodiversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Economic:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reduced input costs and improved yields have doubled farmer income.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Social:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Community participation fosters environmental stewardship and local empowerment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Climate:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Enhanced mangrove coverage aids in <\/span><b>carbon sequestration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, supporting India\u2019s broader climate action commitments under the <\/span><b>Paris Agreement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Broader Significance for India\u2019s Blue Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s coastal regions are highly vulnerable to climate risks, and unsustainable aquaculture has often undermined long-term ecological balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SAIME model aligns closely with the Government of India\u2019s <\/span><b>Blue Economy Policy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which seeks to integrate <\/span><b>marine resource sustainability with economic development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also resonates with the <\/span><b>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, particularly:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>SDG 1 (No Poverty)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; through livelihood diversification;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>SDG 13 (Climate Action)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; via carbon sequestration and coastal resilience;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>SDG 14 (Life Below Water)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; promoting sustainable use of marine resources; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>SDG 15 (Life on Land)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; through mangrove restoration and habitat protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts suggest that similar models could be replicated in <\/span><b>Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where shrimp farming is economically significant but ecologically challenging.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The FAO\u2019s recognition of the Sundarbans aquaculture model underscores the need to scale up <\/span><b>community-based, climate-resilient aquaculture systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across India\u2019s coastal belts. Policymakers can leverage this model to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integrate mangrove conservation into all aquaculture policies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incentivise farmers adopting sustainable practices through carbon credit mechanisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promote training and capacity-building among coastal communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such initiatives can help India transition toward a <\/span><b>low-carbon, biodiversity-friendly, and inclusive blue economy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/west-bengal\/sundarbans-aquaculture-model-wins-fao-global-recognition\/article70168334.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The FAO has conferred Global Technical Recognition on the Sundarbans\u2019 Sustainable Aquaculture Model.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":69516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,3314,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-69497","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-sustainable-aquaculture","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}