Is Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming in India sustainable? A multidimensional indicators-based assessment

Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming has boosted the Indian shrimp production to an all-time high of 0.7 MMT. However, its susceptibility to pathogens, seed quality issues, asymmetry in inputs costs and market prices, environmental limitations and inadequate institutional support are threatening its sustainability. The present study was undertaken to assess its sustainability by developing a composite sustainability index delineating technology, economics, environment, social and institutional indicators. The results show that the pacific white shrimp farming in India is sustainable with a mean sustainability index of 0.77. Majority of the surveyed farms (61%) were operated at moderate to high level of sustainability (0.66–0.84). Dimension wise analysis indicate that P. vannamei shrimp farming was technology driven, economically profitable, benefitted the society, yet, need improvement in environmental and institutional dimensions. Shrimp farm water reconditioning and reuse for subsequent crops, provision of institutional credit and insurance would further enhance its sustainability. Further access to quality shrimp seed, carrying capacity-based stocking density, optimization of inputs, mobilizing farmers for collective compliance of BMPs and strengthening institutional support mechanisms for domestic marketing are together complement the sustainability of shrimp farming in India.