The study aimed to highlight the profitability and production function analysis of Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei in intensified shrimp farms in Gujarat (India). Two hundred and twenty (220) shrimp farm households were used to identify (principal component and cluster analyses) 8 clusters of management practices that reflected various scales of production intensity ranging from 0–2999 kg/ha/crop to 9000kg/ha/crop and above for both the species. The Cobb-Douglas production function, which relates production output to several independent input variables, was used to determine productivity. The budgeting analysis for both the species showed that more intensively managed farms performed more than the less intensive farm. Empirical results show feed as most significant input for Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei seed and labor that affected production. Average net returns/ha/year for Penaeus monodon was $16313.13 and for Litopenaeus vannamei $41640.99. Aquaculture exhibited decreasing returns to scale for both the species and estimates on resource use efficiency revealed that in Penaeus monodon the resources were economically utilized and in case of Litopenaeus vannamei the output was likely to increase if more of seed and less of labor would have been used. The major constraint for the shrimp farmers was diseases which can be mitigated by optimum stocking densities and proper feed management.

Biofloc technology (BFT) is gaining traction as a strategic aquaculture tool for boosting feed conversions, biosecurity, and wastewater recycling. The significant aspect of BFT is aquaculture with highest stocking density and minimal water exchange. It not only improves the water quality of a system by removing inorganic nitrogen from wastewater but also serves as a suitable feed supplement and probiotic source for cultured species. This technology is commonly used for shrimp and tilapia culture and can be used for both semi-intensive and intensive culture systems. Biofloc, when combined with formulated diets, forms a balanced food chain that improves growth performance. Nutrients in this system are continuously recycled and reused and form an efficient alternative system in aquaculture. In addition to the reduction in water exchange, it is also considered as a bio-security measure, since it prevents entry of disease from outside sources. Aquamimicry is an innovative concept that simulates natural estuarine conditions by developing copepods that act as supplementary nutrition especially for shrimp culture. The review highlights the process, significance, and development of BFT, its microbial interactions, nutritional value, transition from biofloc to copefloc, and concept of aquamimicry to sustainably improve aquaculture production.

The paper adopts the conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) and bootstrap procedure to analyze the technical efficiency, while tobit regression is applied to identify the factors affecting efficiencies of exotic fish polyculture in Jammu and Kashmir (India). According to the statistical analysis of the variables utilized, there was a lot of variability in the inputs being used by the farmers, with the most variation being in the lime input. The DEA estimated technical efficiency for the sample farms in Jammu and Kashmir is 0.9771 and 0.9741, respectively, with least technical inefficiency of 3%. The bias-corrected (bootstrapped) technical efficiencies found were slightly lower than the ones estimated by conventional DEA. Mean allocative and cost efficiencies for sample farms in the Jammu region were 92% and 75%, respectively, and 84% and 74%, respectively, for farmers in the Kashmir region. Farming experience, age, and education have favorable impacts on technical efficiency of farmers in the state, but family size showed negative impacts. Efficiency improvement will eventually lead to increase in the production providing better scope for marketed surplus. More fisheries extension is suggested for expanding the exotic fish culture in the state making the enterprise a more profitable venture.

The status of data-limited tuna fishery stocks in India has been tested using the latest and most advanced computerized methods, CMSY and BSM. Five tuna fish stocks from both the Eastern and Western Indian Ocean were assessed using both catch and catch per unit effort (CPUE) details available from 1990 to 2015. Both methods help to calculate the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and exploitation of MSY relative to biomass (B/BMSY). The results of maximum intrinsic rate (r) and carrying capacity are also estimated. The results revealed that all tuna stocks in both the regions were overfished, with one, the longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) in the Western Indian Ocean strongly overfished (B/BMSY = 0.44). Such observations, although still preliminary since the techniques used to produce them are relatively new, often associated with the situation and exploitation of all the stock in question, making the CMSY and BSM methods promising for stock assessment in data-deficit situations. The study concludes that in order to restore the status of these five tuna stocks in both regions, it would be necessary to reduce the fishing pressure.

China has been the largest producer of fish in the world since 1989 and became the largest consumer of fish and fishery products recently. With increase in China’s demand and preference for shellfishes and value-added fish products, India sees China as the second largest export destination after the US. This study analyzed the status, export performance and competitiveness of Indian fish export to China based on data (2000-2018) from trademap.org and UNCOMTRADE statistical database. Compound Growth Rate (CGR) revealed that the seafood export grew at an annual rate of 9.68% in terms of value with instability of 0.24 from 2000-2018. The Simpson Index of Diversity (SID) to the China revealed that the index values remained highest all throughout the years as compared to USA and the rest of the world. The Unit Value Realization (UVR) was found highest in live fishes ($34.92/kg) followed by fresh chilled fish ($7.19/kg), crustaceans ($5.97/kg) and others for 2018. Commodity wise RCA revealed that it is highly positive for frozen fillet meat mince (10.22) followed by crustaceans (8.0) and frozen fish (5.05), indicating that India has a strong comparative advantage in exporting these commodities to China.