Why in news?
The SAIME Initiative (Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems) from West Bengal’s Sundarbans has recently received Global Technical Recognition by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for its innovative integration of shrimp aquaculture with mangrove restoration, benefiting climate, livelihoods, and ecosystem conservation.
 
Key Features

• The initiative integrates brackish water shrimp aquaculture with the restoration and maintenance of mangrove cover (5–30%) within aquaculture ponds, combining economic activity with ecological restoration.​
• SAIME is implemented through partnerships with organizations including the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), Global Nature Fund (GNF), Naturland (Germany), and Bangladesh Environment & Development Society (BEDS).​
• Local communities are central to the project, participating in co-management, monitoring, benefit-sharing, and mangrove plantation activities.​
• Aquaculture under SAIME uses natural feed such as mangrove litter, promotes chemical-free practices, and aims for low-input, high-yield, sustainable production.

Objectives

• Restore mangrove ecosystems and maintain shoreline stability, biodiversity, and blue carbon sinks.​
• Provide climate-resilient, conservation-linked livelihoods to vulnerable coastal communities, especially in the cyclone- and erosion-prone Sundarbans.​
• Standardize culture methodology for native black tiger shrimp using Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture systems (IMA), aiming for fair market access, branding, and certification.​
• Support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG-13 (Climate Action), SDG-14 (Life Below Water), and SDG-15 (Life on Land).​

Implementation and Community Impact

• Pilot sites have been established in the Sundarbans, with active engagement of women’s groups, local panchayats, and farmer collectives in mangrove plantation and aquaculture.​

The SAIME Initiative stands as a leading model of climate-adaptive coastal management and sustainable livelihood generation, combining shrimp aquaculture with ecosystem restoration in mangrove-rich regions.

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