Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala handed over the approval letter for Operation of the Brood Multiplication Centre (BMC) facility established at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh for SPF L. vannamei

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala handed over the approval letter for Operation of the Brood Multiplication Centre (BMC) facility established at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh for SPF L. vannamei

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala handed over the approval letter to a private company of Srikakulam District yesterday for operations of the Broodstock Multiplication Centre (BMC) facility established for SPF L. vannamei during Sagar Parikrama Yatra at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. As per the BMC Guideline of Government, the private company established ‘State of Art BMC facility at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh for SPF L. vannamei’.

The seafood exports of India have been growing at an average annual growth rate of 15% in the last 10 years and stood at an all-time high of Rs. 63,969.14 crore during FY 2022-23, of which brackish water shrimp constitutes the lion’s share of Rs. 43,135 crores as the single largest commodity exported. Since 2008, this rapid and sustainable, environment friendly development of brackish water shrimp aquaculture in the coastal states has been made possible with the domesticated disease-free L. vannamei. The demand for L. vannamei broodstock from the commercial hatcheries in India is currently estimated at 250,000 broodstock per annum. Currently, commercial hatcheries in India are importing the broodstock from two sources such as (i) Overseas empanelled BMC and (ii) BMC Operated in India. The Department of Fisheries has formulated the Guideline for establishment and operation of BMC for SPF shrimp in India. Four such BMC’s have been permitted and are currently in operation in the country.