The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) has termed a recent report by Chicago-based Corporate Accountability Lab accusing India’s shrimp industry of engaging in environmental and human rights abuses “mostly fabricated and with some vested interests”.
Vice-Chancellor T. Pradeepkumar raised doubts about the factual content of the report. He says: “If someone meticulously goes through the report, it can be seen that these accusations are mostly fabricated with some vested interests”. The university, erstwhile College of Fisheries, is deeply involved in the shrimp processing and aquaculture industry since the 1970s with the support of a wide network of university and fisheries college alumni, he said.
Frozen shrimp accounted for 7,11,099 tonnes of the 17,35,286-tonne seafood exported by India during 2022-23. Frozen shrimp, the US and China being the largest importers, earns $5481.63 million and retains its position as the most significant item in the basket. It has a share of 40.98% in quantity and 67.72% in dollar earnings. The US imported 2,75,662 tonnes and China 1,45,743 tonnes; the European Union 95,377 tonnes, South East Asia 65,466 tonnes; and Japan 40,975 tonnes.
