In a landmark achievement for India’s aquaculture sector, the Ecosystem Based Aquaculture Society (EBAS) has secured Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Group Certification for sustainable shrimp farming in Kerala’s traditional Pokkali farm lands. This marks the first time a traditional, extensive culture system for black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) has received ASC certification in the country—positioning Kerala as a potential global model for ecosystem-based aquaculture.

The certification is the culmination of a three-year collaborative effort involving the National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health (NCAAH), Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Baby Marine International, and Coop Cooperatives, Switzerland. The partnership, forged under a tri-partite agreement, was designed to transform Kerala’s brackish water shrimp culture into a sustainable, biodiversity-protecting production system.

At the heart of the initiative is the integration of Ecosystem-Based Approach in Aquaculture (EAA) principles, which combine rigorous environmental monitoring with farmer participation. The project undertook Biodiversity Environmental Impact Assessments (B-EIA) and Participatory Social Impact Assessments (P-SIA) across Pokkali fields to gauge the ecological and community impacts of shrimp farming. The goal: To produce organic-certified shrimp that enhances farmer profitability while preserving environmental health and supporting local livelihoods.

As a mandatory step towards ASC certification, EBAS was formally established as a farmers’ society to bring eligible farms under a unified governance framework. In the first phase, eight farms across 200 hectares in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts have been brought under ASC’s group certification. The certified shrimp will now be exported to Coop Cooperative, Switzerland—Europe’s largest organic food retailer—through Baby Marine International.

“This achievement is not just a certification, it is a commitment to the future of sustainable aquaculture,” said Dr. Valsamma Joseph, Director, NCAAH. Baburaj K.V, Vice President–Operations at Baby Marine International, and Philipp Martin Boeni of Coop Switzerland, echoed the vision of extending ASC certification across Kerala’s Pokkali and Cole lands, unlocking high-value export markets while creating rural employment and strengthening environmental stewardship.

The certification follows rigorous adherence to ASC Shrimp Standards Ver 1.2.1, ensuring traceability, biosecurity, and community welfare. The partners view this milestone as a stepping stone toward scaling organic, climate-resilient shrimp farming across Kerala, turning its unique Pokkali agro-ecosystem into a global benchmark for responsible aquaculture.