ABSTRACT
India today holds the distinction of being the world’s largest exporter of shrimp, with estimated exports projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2024. A staggering 60% of this comes from Andhra Pradesh alone . Andhra Pradesh contributes around 32 per cent of marine seafood exports and covers 2.26 lakh acres under aquaculture. The push for traceability and certifications aligned with global standards is enhancing the credibility of Indian shrimp in discerning markets . Studies on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment were conducted in Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh such as Bapatla, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema , East Godavari , Eluru , Guntur , Kakinada , Krishna , NTR , Palnadu , Prakasam , Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore , West Godavari and in Srikakulam districts in about 70 shrimp farms selected based on their size and proximity to coastal zones; however, results may not be representative of all aquaculture operations in Andhra Pradesh due to limited sample size and selection criteria . Studies revealed that these farms are not having any negative i mpact on Native Mangrove vegetation as most of them were neither located in Mangroves nor have destroyed / encroached the native mangrove vegetation. Majority of the farms were in Coastal Aqua zone barring a few farms that were found in Agriculture rich areas especially in Krishna and Godavari districts where farmers have converted their agriculture farms into aquaculture for higher income and due to non-availability of labour due to increased costs. The profitability from aquaculture has increased and encouraged the farmers to convert their farms into aqua farms in these regions . Most of these farms have drawn water from canals having salinity ranging from 5-30 ppt and occasionally use saline borewell water in their farms w hen the water needs to be supplemented for culture. The farms under these studies also revealed that the farms were away from wildlife protected areas and also away from biodiversity rich areas and doesn’t possess High Conservation Value species as located mostly in aqua zones in coastal districts. The social Impact studies revealed that there is an overall improvement in the standard of living, earning per family through gainful employment in aqua sector from hatchery to processing and related sectors. Even the revenue from leasing lands for aquaculture has yielded higher income compared to agriculture where one face shortage of labour . Mostly the feedboys are from adjoining states such as West Bengal, Odisha and other regions. Shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh is not just about exports and economic metrics. It is about resilience, empowerment, and strategic foresight. It represents a sector that is future-ready, environmentally conscious, and globally competitive that captured the imagination of world seeking sustainable prosperity through blue economies. Thus, the study concludes that there could be neutral impact on biodiversity and positive impact on society with best sustainable management practices.
Keywords: Impact Assessment, Social Impacts, Biodiversi ty, Mangroves, Shrimp, Andhra Pradesh, Aquaculture, India.