In a transformative move set to redefine Odisha’s position in India’s seafood map, the state Cabinet has approved a comprehensive Regulatory Framework and Operational Guidelines for the scientific culture of SPF Litopenaeus vannamei (white leg shrimp) and other brackish-water species in inland saline waters.
The decision opens up vast inland saline tracts located 2 to 10 km from the high-tide line — areas falling outside the jurisdiction of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA). This carefully regulated expansion promises to deliver sustainable growth while protecting the environment and boosting farmer incomes.
The approved framework mandates online farm registration, rigorous scientific site selection, strong biosecurity protocols, regular disease surveillance, continuous water-quality monitoring, and mandatory installation of Effluent Treatment Systems (ETS). Cluster-based development with shared infrastructure and adoption of advanced technologies will be actively promoted.
Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department will oversee implementation, ensuring every farm adheres to responsible practices that balance productivity with environmental safeguards.
The initiative is a key pillar of the proposed Odisha Shrimp Mission under the state’s Blue Economy vision aligned with Odisha Vision 2036 and Vision 2047.
Key targets by 2036:
- Additional 25,000 hectares of shrimp farming area
- Shrimp production jump from 1.6 lakh MT to 9 lakh MT
- Annual seafood exports rise from ₹5,429 crore to ₹15,000 crore
- Generation of around 2.5 lakh new livelihoods
By 2047, Odisha aims to emerge as one of India’s top shrimp-producing and exporting states, empowering coastal and inland communities while strengthening the state’s global recognition in sustainable aquaculture.
Officials described the framework as “a scientific, environmentally sustainable and regulated system” that will improve productivity, strengthen biosecurity, and enhance farmer livelihoods without compromising ecological balance.
This approval marks a decisive step toward making fisheries and aquaculture a major driver of economic growth, exports, and coastal prosperity in Odisha.
