Gujarat will install 8,925 Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets across the state under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), in a ₹20.96 crore initiative designed to reduce the accidental capture of sea turtles while strengthening the state's shrimp export credentials. The announcement, made on Saturday, 29 August, marks the first time TEDs will be distributed to fishermen in Gujarat.

What the Scheme Covers

Fisheries Minister Jitu Vaghani confirmed that all 8,925 fishermen receiving the devices will do so free of cost, with 100 per cent government assistance under PMMSY. 'The use of Turtle Excluder Devices will ensure sea turtles can safely escape fishing nets during fishing operations,' Vaghani said.

The TED model being deployed has been developed by ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, in accordance with global specifications set by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Union government has approved 8,925 TED units for Gujarat — the highest number sanctioned for any single state, according to the state government.

How a TED Works

A Turtle Excluder Device is a specialised mechanism fitted inside shrimp trawl nets. It allows shrimp to remain in the net while providing larger marine animals — including sea turtles — an escape route through an opening fitted with an exit flap. The device directly reduces turtle mortality caused by accidental entanglement during commercial fishing operations.

Gujarat holds the distinction of having India's longest coastline and is one of the country's foremost fisheries-producing states, making it a natural priority for the rollout.

The Export Dimension

The initiative carries significant trade implications. According to officials, restrictions imposed by the United States on imports of wild-caught shrimp from India — over concerns about sea turtle protection during fishing — have created compliance pressure on Indian fisheries. The government expects TED adoption to help Gujarat's shrimp industry meet certification requirements of international markets, including the US, and expand seafood export access.

Officials noted that increased market access could improve earnings for both fishermen and seafood exporters, connecting conservation goals directly to economic outcomes.

Regulatory and Policy Context

The Centre had earlier advised all coastal states and Union Territories to review their marine fisheries regulations concerning wild shrimp harvesting and TED use. Gujarat is among the nine coastal states that have since amended their Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts to make TED use mandatory.

This comes amid growing international scrutiny of India's seafood supply chains, with conservation compliance increasingly tied to market access in the US and the European Union. Officials described the initiative as a contribution to marine biodiversity conservation under the broader framework of the state's Blue Economy strategy.

What Comes Next

Distribution of the devices to eligible fishermen is expected to proceed under PMMSY's existing implementation framework. Industry observers note that the real test will be adoption rates on the water — TEDs require proper installation and use to be effective, and training support for fishermen will be critical to the programme's conservation and trade outcomes.