Sundarbans Aquaculture Model Wins FAO Global Recognition | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Sundarbans Aquaculture Model Wins FAO Global Recognition

Posted 17 Oct 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

Article Summary

The SAIME model by Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, promoting ecosystem-based, climate-adaptive aquaculture in Sunderbans, has received FAO recognition for sustainable mangrove conservation and livelihood enhancement.

The Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model, developed by Nature Environment and Wildlife Society has received Global Technical Recognition from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

What is the SAIME Initiative?

  • SAIME is a Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (MSP) to strengthen transformative processes in shrimp trade as a basis for the protection of mangrove ecosystems in South Asia.
  • In Sunderbans, SAIME aims to build a resilient ecosystem standardizing a practice of culture methodology of brackish water aquaculture integrating native black tiger shrimp as one of the major candidate species in an ecosystem-based approach and capacitating the existing brackish water farmers for the same.
  • The initiative exemplifies an ecosystem-based, climate-adaptive, and conservation-linked livelihood approach.
    • It aims to reduce blue carbon emissions by integrating mangroves as natural carbon sinks and enhance market access through farmer institutions, branding, and certification to ensure fair prices and inclusive growth.
  • Funding: Global Nature Fund (GNF) in consortium with Naturland e.V. and Mercedes Benz.
  • It also operationalizes the Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) which aims to promote extensive culture of low stocking densities with no additional feed input.

About Sunderbans

  • The Sundarbans mangrove forest  lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. 
  • The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes. 
  • It is the only mangrove forest throughout the world (besides Bangladesh) to harbour a significant tiger population.
  • West Bengal(42.45%) has the highest mangrove coverage followed by Gujarat (23.66) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands(12.39%).  
  • Overall, India's total mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 km2, making up 0.15% of the country's total geographical area.(ISFR-2023). 
  • Tags :
  • UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Sundarbans Aquaculture Model
  • Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model
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