BUILDING CONSENSUS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AQUACULTURE: A DELPHI STUDY OF BETTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SHRIMP FARMING IN INDIA

Shrimp farming in India has developed at an uneven pace since export-oriented production began in the early 1990s. The introduction of Penaeus vannamei in 2009 along with disease-related production declines in competing Asian nations has led to a remarkable expansion in recent years. It is clear that the long-term success of Indian shrimp farming will continue to rely on the widespread adoption of Better Management Practices (BMPs). A two-round stakeholder Delphi survey was conducted in 2012 to elicit views and build consensus on the relative importance of a comprehensive set of BMPs covering most aspects of shrimp farming production. While the vast majority of BMPs were considered important, respondents placed greater emphasis on those BMPs aimed at improving production efficiency. Also, BMPs focused on overall outcomes were ranked higher than those placing specific restrictions on input usage. Results also yielded interesting policy implications on BMPs that are yet to be widely adopted such as distance between farms and construction of effluent treatment systems.