Japan rejects 28 shrimp containers from India

After two-and-a-half years, the problem of antibiotic in shrimp has resurfaced, hitting the seafood exports from India.

Last week, seafood importers in Japan rejected around 28 containers of shrimp exported from the country. The value of the rejected shrimp material was around Rs 20 crore and almost 85 per cent of it had come from Andhra Pradesh.

About two years back, European countries had rejected around five containers of shrimp from the country as antibiotic residues were found in them.

Later, Marine Products Export Development Authority and Seafood Exporters Association of India took precautionary measures like creating awareness among aqua farmers on the usage of antibiotic in aqua farming. MPEDA even started few laboratories for testing shrimp material.

"In spite of these efforts, aqua farmers and aqua seed producers in some places have been using chemicals, which are not recommended by the industry," T Raghunath Reddy, secretary-general, Seai, told Business Standard.

While in Gujarat, aqua farmers are taking all steps to produce quality material, in Kochi, MPEDA had set up a state-of-the-art laboratory for testing export materials. However, in Andhra Pradesh there is no proper regulatory mechanism for aqua industry.

In Andhra Pradesh, shrimp production cost for 40 count tiger shrimp is around Rs 120 per kg and Rs 160 per kg for 30 count.

However, seafood exporters pay Rs 190 per kg and Rs 240 per kg respectively to shrimp farmers though some aqua farmers use chemicals for higher production. Owing to this, the entire seafood industry is suffering, Reddy said.

"Andhra Pradesh produces Rs 2,000 crore tiger shrimps annually. If similar problems continue to arise then it will impact the state's rural economy. Therefore, we need a proper regulatory authority to monitor aqua farming," he said.

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Dumped

• The value of the rejected shrimp was around Rs 20 crore and 85% of was from Andhra Pradesh
• About two years back some European countries had five shrimp containers from India as antibiotic residues were found in them