Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has called for a meeting with stakeholders affected by the US ban on wild-caught shrimp exports, aiming to find solutions to safeguard their livelihoods and businesses.
State Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan will convene the meeting on July 24, bringing together representatives from fishermen's associations, boat owners, exporters, and relevant officials, as per an official statement released on Thursday.
The US imposed the ban in 2019, citing concerns about sea turtles getting entangled in fishing nets. This restriction has led to a significant impact on India's shrimp export market, causing prices to decline as other countries purchase Indian shrimp at reduced rates.
"The ongoing crisis has adversely affected the domestic shrimp market," stated the minister's office, underscoring the urgent need to address the challenges faced by the fisheries sector.
Fishermen's associations have contested the claim that sea turtles are commonly ensnared in nets during trolling activities in most Indian waters. They highlighted existing bans on trolling in specific regions like Odisha's coast during sea turtle breeding seasons.
Charles George, leader of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikyavedi, criticized the ban for forcing numerous exporters to shut down operations.
Last year, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had expressed efforts to develop a mechanism allowing Indian fishermen to resume shrimp exports to the US, aiming to mitigate the economic impact of the ban. PTI
Published: 19 Jul 2024, 10:49 pm IST
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