Aerial view of a shrimp farm in Andhra Pradesh with earthen ponds and paddlewheel aerators

Prawn & shrimp farming in India, made simple

A practical knowledge hub for small farmers, new entrepreneurs and technicians. Plain-language guides on vannamei, black tiger and freshwater scampi — from CAA registration and pond preparation to water quality, diseases, costs and government schemes.

1M+ MT farmed shrimp (2025) ~70–80% from Andhra Pradesh 60 PL/m² density cap CAA registered farms
Start here: new farmer Open the calculators
Production snapshot

India's prawn sector at a glance

India produced well over 1 million metric tonnes of farmed shrimp in 2025. Most farms are small — under 2 hectares — and frozen shrimp remains the backbone of India's seafood exports.

1M+ MTFarmed shrimp, 2025
90–94%Vannamei share of farmed output
70–80%Of output from Andhra Pradesh
<2 haTypical farm size
60 PL/m²Common density cap (earthen ponds)
Fresh vannamei shrimp on ice in a crate

Coastal shrimp: vannamei & tiger

Brackish-water farming along the east and west coasts. Vannamei dominates; black tiger is returning for premium export and domestic markets.

Vannamei guide
Giant freshwater prawn with long blue claws

Freshwater scampi

Giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) grown in ponds, often in polyculture with carps. A smaller but actively promoted segment.

Scampi guide
Paddlewheel aerators working a shrimp pond at dusk

Water quality & biosecurity

Dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity and ammonia decide success more than any single input. Learn the daily checks and the biosecurity basics.

Water quality guide
Where are you starting from?

Pick your path

Four clear entry points so you land on the right guide first — no need to read everything.

🌱 New farmer

Never farmed shrimp before? Start with site selection, soil and water tests, pond layout and the CAA registration process — step by step.

Begin here

🐟 Existing farmer

Improve your current crop: pond preparation, seed selection, feeding and FCR, aeration, water-quality tables and disease recognition.

Improve my crop

🦐 Scampi / freshwater

Interested in freshwater prawn or low-salinity vannamei? See the species biology, polyculture with carps and inland saline options.

Explore freshwater

🗺️ Inland & state hubs

Find state-specific guidance for Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and inland saline areas.

Find my state
Fresh from the field

Latest note: black tiger & GI scampi revival

Black tiger shrimp comeback

After years of vannamei dominance, Penaeus monodon is being revived for premium export and a growing domestic market. Bigger sizes and better prices, but slower growth and higher disease sensitivity than vannamei.

Read the black tiger guide →

GI-tagged scampi

Giant freshwater prawn is being promoted through geographical-indication branding and polyculture with carps. CIFA and ICAR research support better seed and grow-out practices.

Read the scampi guide →
⚠️ Prices and schemes change

Farm-gate prices, input costs and subsidy rates fluctuate. Figures on this site are indicative ranges for planning — always confirm current rates with your state fisheries department and MPEDA before investing.

Sources: CAA guidelines · MPEDA BMPs · ICAR-CIBA / CIFA manuals · PMMSY / NFDB Last updated: 24 August 2026

This is general information for planning. Follow current CAA, MPEDA and state rules, and consult a qualified aqua consultant before starting or changing any farming practice. Verify every figure against the latest official notification.