International Journal of Aquaculture, 2026, Vol.16, No.1, 18-31 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 20 3.3 Environmental challenges in aquaculture A significant environmental challenge is the discharge of aquaculture effluents, which contain dissolved nutrients like nitrogen that contribute to eutrophication, particularly in cage culture systems. High-density culture environments can stress aquatic species, increasing susceptibility to disease and leading to a reliance on antibiotics, which further deteriorates water quality (Noor et al., 2019). Furthermore, the transition from traditional rotational cropping to intensify shrimp culture has occasionally resulted in poor water quality and reduced growth rates. A critical ecological risk is the escape of farmed fish, as interbreeding with wild populations can lead to high mortality rates and reduced genetic fitness in offspring. 3.4 Freshwater aquaculture in India Freshwater aquaculture development in India continues to expand, though it faces constraints related to input availability and environmental management (Jayasankar, 2018). Cage aquaculture has been introduced as a viable method for ecosystem-based management, showing success with species such as cyprinids, perches, and catfishes (Radhakrishnan et al., 2010). When managed correctly, these systems leverage natural productivity (phytoplankton and zooplankton) to provide economic opportunities for rural communities. Currently, India is the second-largest fish producer globally, contributing approximately 8% of total production. The country continues to leverage its vast inland resources-including rivers, reservoirs, and tanks through strategic development programs aimed at enhancing sustainable productivity (Table 1, Table 2). Table 1 Marine resources and statistics Parameter Value Unit Source Total Coastline Length 8,118 km Government of India / FAO (2022-2024) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 2.02 million km² FAO (2022-2024) Continental Shelf Area 0.42 million km² FAO (2022-2024) Fish Landing Centers 1,376 Number National Marine Fisheries Census (2005) Fishing Villages 3,322 Number National Marine Fisheries Census (2005) Fishermen Families 764,868 Number National Marine Fisheries Census (2005) Total Fisher folk Population 3,574,704 Number National Marine Fisheries Census (2005) Table 2 Inland resources Parameter Value Unit Rivers and Canals 195,210 km Reservoirs 3.15 million hectares Tanks and Ponds 2.414 million hectares Flood Plains / Derelict Water Bodies 0.8-1.2 million hectares Brackishwater Area 1.24 million hectares Saline / Alkaline Affected Area 1.20 million hectares 3.5 Brackish water aquaculture in India India has contributed remarkable aquaculture producer, contributing significantly to both domestic and international markets. The country leverages vast inland resources like ponds and tanks, along with brackish/saline areas, for a variety of fish like carps, catfish, and tilapia, and has expanded into saline water aquaculture using inland saline groundwater. This is exemplified by the commercial farming of the Pacific white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in states like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. India is the second-largest producer of aquaculture in the world. The emphasis on brackishwater aquaculture invited large number of private companies and multi-nationals in intensive aquaculture resulted detrimental impact and serious environmental and health issues among the coastal community due to large conversion of thousands of hectares of coastal lands for intensive shrimp farming. The mangroves were cleared, wetlands were encroached and drained, and aquaculture tanks were built into freshwater lakes. Apart from saltwater intrusion into freshwater bodies, including aquifers, and aquaculture practices led to the release of contaminants into water sources.
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