Gandhinagar, Aug 29 — Gujarat will install 8,925 Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets across the state under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, in a Rs 20.96 crore initiative aimed at reducing the accidental capture of sea turtles while also supporting the state’s shrimp exports.
The initiative, announced on Saturday, marks the first time TEDs will be provided to fishermen in Gujarat. Fisheries Minister Jitu Vaghani said 8,925 fishermen will receive the devices free of cost with 100 per cent government assistance.
“The use of Turtle Excluder Devices will ensure sea turtles can safely escape fishing nets during fishing operations,” Vaghani said.
The devices are being introduced as a measure to protect sea turtles, which are an important part of marine biodiversity, while addressing environmental requirements associated with international seafood trade.
Gujarat has the longest coastline among Indian states and is one of the country’s major fisheries-producing states.
A TED is a specialised mechanism fitted inside shrimp trawl nets. It is designed to allow shrimp to remain in the net while providing larger marine animals, including sea turtles, with an escape route through an opening fitted with an exit flap.
The device is intended to reduce turtle mortality caused by accidental capture during fishing operations.
The Union government has approved 8,925 TED units for Gujarat, the highest number approved for any state, according to the state government.
The TED model has been developed by ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, in accordance with global specifications set by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The Centre has also included TED implementation under PMMSY, with full financial assistance for the activity. The move also has implications for Gujarat’s seafood export sector.
"Restrictions imposed by the United States on imports of wild-caught shrimp from India over concerns about the protection of sea turtles during fishing have created a need for Indian fisheries to comply with international conservation requirements," officials said.
The government expects the adoption of TEDs to help Gujarat’s shrimp industry meet the certification requirements of international markets, including the US, and support greater access for its seafood exports.
It said this could create opportunities to increase shrimp exports and, in turn, improve earnings for fishermen and seafood exporters.
The Centre had earlier advised all coastal states and Union Territories to review their marine fisheries regulations concerning wild shrimp harvesting and TED use.
Gujarat is among the nine coastal states that have amended their Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts to mandate TED use.
"The initiative would contribute to marine biodiversity conservation while supporting Gujarat’s fisheries and seafood export sector under the broader framework of the state’s Blue Economy," officials noted.