Why in news?
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recognised the Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model from India’s Sundarbans on 15 October 2025. The model, implemented by the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), combines shrimp farming with mangrove restoration and has doubled farmers’ profits while improving coastal resilience.
Background
The Sundarbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest – supports millions of people through fisheries and agriculture. Traditional shrimp farming often involves clearing mangroves, which exposes coastal communities to storms, erosion and climate change. SAIME was developed to overcome this conflict by requiring farmers to maintain 5–30 % mangrove cover within their ponds. The mangroves provide natural food for shrimp, reduce disease and stabilise pond banks.
Since 2019, NEWS has implemented SAIME across 30 hectares with 42 farmers in North and South 24 Parganas districts. Farmers plant mangroves around pond perimeters and use fallen leaves as feed, reducing input costs. Shrimp yields have remained stable, and incomes have more than doubled. FAO recognised the model during its 80th anniversary celebrations as part of its efforts to promote nature‑based solutions and community‑driven climate adaptation.
Mangroves – nature’s guardians
- Unique adaptations: Mangrove trees grow in the intertidal zones of tropical coasts. Their specialised roots – prop roots and pneumatophores – allow them to breathe in waterlogged, saline soils.
- Biodiversity hotspots: Mangroves provide nursery habitat for fish, crabs and shrimp. They also support birds, reptiles and mammals. In India, mangrove forests are found in the Sundarbans, Mahanadi delta, Krishna–Godavari region and Gulf of Kutch.
- Coastal protection: By dissipating wave energy and binding soil, mangroves shield coasts from cyclones, storm surges and erosion. Their root systems trap sediments and reduce water turbidity.
- Carbon sinks: Mangroves sequester large amounts of carbon in their biomass and sediments, helping mitigate climate change.
Benefits of the SAIME model
- Improved livelihoods: Farmers earn more because mangrove litter reduces feed costs and the mixed system stabilises yields. Community participation fosters local ownership.
- Environmental resilience: Mangroves inside ponds act as biological filters, improve water quality and reduce disease outbreaks. They also strengthen embankments against storm surges.
- Climate adaptation: Maintaining mangrove cover helps coastal communities adapt to rising sea levels and extreme weather. The model aligns with Mission LiFE, which promotes sustainable living.
- Replicability: SAIME can be adapted to other mangrove regions in India and abroad, providing a blueprint for balancing aquaculture with conservation.
Conclusion
SAIME demonstrates that sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem conservation can go hand in hand. By integrating mangrove restoration with aquaculture, the model offers coastal communities a way to prosper while preserving the natural defences that protect them from climate‑related threats.
Source: The Hindu