**Executive Summary**
The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, addresses concerns regarding White Spot Disease outbreaks in Andhra Pradesh. The report outlines measures taken under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) including disease surveillance, crop insurance, and guidelines for aquaculture operations. The latest update indicates that four samples tested positive for White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) from January 1, 2025, to date under passive surveillance, with an additional twenty-three cases under active surveillance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **White Spot Disease in Andhra Pradesh:**
* The Department of Fisheries reports no severe losses faced by shrimp farmers in Andhra Pradesh due to White Spot Disease outbreaks.
* The Department has a framework for early detection, reporting, and control of aquatic animal diseases.
* **National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD):**
* Implemented with a total outlay of ₹33.78 crore, involving systematic surveillance across all States/UTs.
* Aims to identify disease risk, improve disease management, and promote a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
* An Android-based mobile application, “Report Fish Disease,” facilitates connectivity between stakeholders.
* **Disease Surveillance in Andhra Pradesh:**
* Field teams collect aquaculture samples fortnightly.
* Samples are analyzed at the State Institute of Fisheries Technology (SIFT), Kakinada.
* From January 1, 2025, to date, four samples tested positive for WSSV under passive surveillance, with an additional twenty-three under active surveillance.
* **Aquaculture Crop Insurance:**
* Integrated under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
* Periodic reviews are conducted to assess the scheme's performance.
* 85 aquafarmers are currently covered.
* ₹5.21 lakh were disbursed to 10 aquafarmers in 2025, with an additional 12 claims approved for release.
* **Risk Parameters and Premium Structures:**
* No proposal is under consideration to introduce State-specific risk parameters or premium structures for Andhra Pradesh.
* **Mitigation Measures:**
* The Coastal Aquaculture Authority has issued guidelines for SPF shrimp broodstock multiplication centres, hatcheries, and farms.
* Measures aim to prevent WSSV outbreaks and safeguard the shrimp aquaculture sector.
* Mandatory quarantine of imported shrimp broodstock and parental post-larvae.
* Mandatory registration of shrimp hatcheries, Nauplii Rearing Centres (NRCs), and shrimp farms with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA).
* Promotion of alternative culture systems like Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS).
**Impact Analysis**
**Shrimp Farmers in Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Assurance that disease outbreaks are being monitored and mitigated. Insurance coverage available through PM-MKSSY.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the “Report Fish Disease” app to report any disease outbreaks. Participate in the Aquaculture Crop Insurance Scheme. Register with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA).
**Department of Fisheries, Government of India**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing the NSPAAD program and related mitigation efforts.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring disease outbreaks, conduct periodic reviews of the insurance scheme, and enforce guidelines for aquaculture operations.
**Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA)**
* **Impact:** Mandated to regulate and oversee shrimp hatcheries and farms.
* **Action Required:** Enforce registration of shrimp hatcheries, Nauplii Rearing Centres (NRCs), and shrimp farms. Ensure compliance with SPF guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A comprehensive scheme for the development of the fisheries sector.
National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD): A program implemented under PMMSY for systematic surveillance to identify disease risks in aquatic animals.
Andhra Pradesh: State where outbreaks of white spot disease have been reported in shrimp farming.
Coastal Aquaculture Authority: Authority issuing guidelines for the operation of SPF shrimp facilities to prevent White Spot Disease.
White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV): The disease affecting shrimp aquaculture, which is the subject of the policy measures.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Outbreaks of white spot diseases in Andhra
Pradesh
प्रव तथ: 17 DEC 2025 7:57PM by PIB Delhi
(a) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has not received any reports of severe losses faced
by shrimp farmers in Andhra Pradesh due to repeated outbreaks of White Spot Disease. The Department
of Fisheries, Government of India, has established a robust framework for early detection, reporting, and
control of aquatic animal diseases. Under the central sector component of Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Department of Fisheries is implementing the National Surveillance
Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) through ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic
Resources, Lucknow, with a total outlay of ₹ 33.78 crore. NSPAAD involves systematic surveillance
across all the States/UTs in the country to identify disease risk, improve disease management, and promote
a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Under the NSPAAD, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has
also launched an Android-based mobile application known as “Report Fish Disease”. The app provides a
central platform for connecting, integrating, and seamlessly connecting fish farmers, field-level officers,
and fish health experts.
As informed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, under the ongoing disease surveillance programme,
field teams have been collecting aquaculture samples fortnightly from various regions of the State. These
samples are subsequently analysed at the designated referral laboratory located at the State Institute of
Fisheries Technology (SIFT), Kakinada. During the period from 1st January 2025 to date, four samples
have tested positive for White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) under the passive surveillance component.
In addition, under active surveillance, a total of twenty-three samples have been diagnosed as WSSV-
positive in Andhra Pradesh.
(b) and (c): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has integrated aquaculture crop insurance
support under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), implemented as a
component of the broader Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) across all States and Union
Territories, including Andhra Pradesh. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India also conducts
periodic reviews to assess the scheme's performance and progress. As informed by the Government of
Andhra Pradesh, 85 aquafarmers in the State are currently covered under the Aquaculture Crop Insurance
Scheme. In 2025, insurance claims totalling ₹5.21 lakh were disbursed to 10 aquafarmers, and an
additional 12 claims were approved for release.
(d) No proposal under consideration in the Department fisheries, Government of India to introduce State-
specific risk parameters or premium structures for Andhra Pradesh.
(e) To mitigate White Spot Disease, Coastal Aquaculture Authority, under the Department of Fisheries,
Government of India, has issued comprehensive guidelines for the establishment and operation of Specific
Pathogen Free (SPF) shrimp broodstock multiplication centres, Nucleus Breeding Centres, hatcheries, and
farms, along with guidelines for health monitoring, disease surveillance, and SPF certification of coastal
aquaculture units and stocks. These measures aim to prevent the introduction, infection, and outbreak of
White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and to safeguard the shrimp aquaculture sector and its value chain.To strengthen biosecurity, quarantine of all imported shrimp broodstock and parental post-larvae has been
made mandatory, thereby limiting the entry and spread of pathogens. Further, the Government has
mandated the registration of shrimp hatcheries, Nauplii Rearing Centres (NRCs), and shrimp farms with
the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) for effective monitoring, surveillance, and regulatory oversight.
Regular PCR-based disease surveillance of shrimp and water samples is carried out with support from the
national surveillance programme, enabling early detection and timely control of WSSV. Additionally, the
Government is promoting alternative culture systems such as Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculatory
Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to reduce disease risk, enhance biosecurity, and encourage sustainable
aquaculture practices.
The above answer was given by Shri Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Minister of
Fisheries,Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, in response to a question asked in the
Rajya Sabha.
JP
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