Why in the News?

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

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Sundarbans (Introduction, Sustainable Aquaculture, FAO’s Recognition, Significance, Way Forward, etc.)

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.

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

• Recently, 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
• 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.