SAIME Model of Sundarbans Wins FAO Global Technical Recognition
Why in the news
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has given Global Technical Recognition to SAIME, a community-based aquaculture model from West Bengal’s Sundarbans.
Key facts
- SAIME: Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems.
- Developer: Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS).
- Mangrove share: 5-30% of each aquaculture pond area stays under mangroves.
- Species: Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon), fed with mangrove litter.
- Benefit: farmers’ yearly net profit has doubled as costs fell.
About the Sundarbans
The Sundarbans lies across India and Bangladesh in the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers and holds the largest mangrove forests in the world. It supports over 12 million people and species such as the Bengal tiger and Irrawaddy dolphin. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Indian part listed in 1987, Bangladeshi part in 1997) and was recognised as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2019. A 2011 India-Bangladesh MoU supports joint conservation.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| World Heritage (India) | 1987 |
| World Heritage (Bangladesh) | 1997 |
| Ramsar status | 2019 |
| India-Bangladesh MoU | 2011 |
Exam angle
- Expand SAIME and name the developer, NEWS.
- Mangroves act as carbon sinks and coastal buffers against erosion and sea-level rise.
- Pair this with Sundarbans static facts: heritage and Ramsar years.