Unlocking Landscape-Level Change for Shrimp Farming in India
Building a model for broader, more effective change in the Andhra Pradesh shrimp farming sector.
SFP worked with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) in Andhra Pradesh, India, to develop a model for a landscape-level approach to aquaculture, using the state’s shrimp farming sector as a case study and pilot project. The project involved close collaboration with local organizations, shrimp farmers, and government authorities. The learnings and experiences from this project formed the basis of the SFP-ASC Roadmap for Landscape-Level Improvements in Aquaculture.
A timeline of highlights and insights from our work in Andhra Pradesh
These highlights are organized around the 5 key steps of the Roadmap.
Recognize the opportunity
June 2023: SFP and ASC select shrimp farming in Andhra Pradesh for an initial case study, as the rapid growth of this industry is likely to lead to increased environmental and socio-economic pressures. A landscape approach can address these challenges by uniting diverse stakeholders, promoting sustainable practices, and balancing the industry’s growth with environmental preservation and community well-being.
Scope the scale
June 2024 – June 2025: ASC and SFP conduct remote GIS mapping to identify administrative areas (jurisdictions) in which to focus landscape-level improvements. This analysis is refined as more information is revealed in subsequent stages.
Understand the landscape and its stakeholders
September 2024 – March 2025: Building on a stakeholder workshop attended by local shrimp farming and supply chain stakeholders, local aquaculture experts Seafood Solutions produced a landscape analysis identifying key aquaculture sustainability challenges, stakeholders, and improvement opportunities. Click here to read the analysis [LINK].
February-March 2025: Local social and community-focused organizations the Dakshin Foundation and Living Landscapes conducted an assessment of social and community sustainability challenges, stakeholders, and improvement opportunities. Click here to read the assessment [LINK].
March 2025: Good Clout Consulting conducted an analysis of other improvement projects operating in Andhra Pradesh’s farmed shrimp sector and key opportunities for greater landscape-level collaboration. Click here to read the analysis [LINK].
Enable local expertise: Refine, Repeat, and Reengage
December 2024 and February 2025: SFP and ASC staff conduct a series of field visits to Andhra Pradesh, to deepen understanding and promote the landscape approach both within the industry and to the international audience and supply chain. These included a joint visit by SFP CEO Jim Cannon and ASC CEO Chris Ninnes, who later shared their insights during panels at Seafood Expo North America 2025 in Boston and Seafood Expo Global 2025 in Barcelona.
Define success and monitor progress
June 2025: ASC and SFP produced a gap analysis of tools in the public domain that could be used to track progress and provide metrics of assurance for landscape-level initiatives in India and elsewhere. Click here to read the gap analysis [LINK].
Want to know more?
You can learn more about our work in Andhra Pradesh and the opportunities that landscape-level approaches present for habitat and small-scale farmers in a series of blogs by SFP’s Aquaculture Information Manager Paul Bulcock.
What's next?
[PARAGRAPH TO COME FROM PAUL]
The SFP and ASC advantage
SFP and ASC are two science-based, people- and nature-focused NGOs working toward shared goals that ensure that seafood is sustainably and responsibly managed.
- SFP promotes large-scale improvements in aquaculture using an ecosystem-based approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of farms and their cumulative environmental impacts.
- ASC sets high standards for aquaculture, promoting transparency and traceability across the seafood supply chain. It focuses on driving meaningful improvements in seafood farming through rigorous standards and on-the-ground programs.