Gujarat Fishermen to Use Turtle Excluder Devices in Shrimp Trawl Nets

Gandhinagar: For the first time, Gujarat fishermen will use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawl nets to reduce the risk of sea turtles being trapped during fishing.

Under the initiative, 8,925 TED units will be provided free of cost to fishermen across the state with 100% government assistance. The project will be implemented at a total cost of Rs 20.96 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Fisheries Minister Jitubhai Vaghani said the devices would allow sea turtles accidentally caught in fishing nets to escape safely while keeping the shrimp catch inside the net.

Gujarat, which has the longest coastline among Indian states, is a major fishing and seafood-producing state. The introduction of TEDs is also expected to help address concerns related to turtle conservation and support the state’s seafood exports.

The move assumes significance amid restrictions on imports of wild-caught shrimp from India in the US market, with concerns over the impact of shrimp trawling on sea turtles being among the issues involved. The use of TEDs could help Gujarat fishermen meet international conservation and certification requirements and improve access to global seafood markets.

According to the state government, the Centre has approved 8,925 TED units for Gujarat, the highest number sanctioned for any state. The TED model has been developed by the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, in line with international standards, including those followed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A TED is a specialised device fitted into shrimp trawl nets. It allows larger marine animals, including sea turtles, to escape through an opening while retaining shrimp inside the net. Its use is aimed at reducing turtle mortality caused by accidental capture during fishing.

The state government said the initiative is expected to support marine conservation while also strengthening Gujarat’s seafood sector and its position in the global blue economy. DeshGujarat