USFDA Approves India’s Turtle Excluder Device, Lifting US Ban on Wild-Caught Shrimp Imports

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has approved India’s Turtle Excluder Device (TED) for shrimp trawl fisheries, which is expected to lift the US ban on wild-caught shrimp imports from India. The TED, designed and standardized by CIFT, has been proven to reduce turtle mortality by up to 97%. This approval is a major boost for exporters of traditional small wild-caught shrimp, generating an estimated additional export revenue of ₹1,200-1,500 crore annually. It also reinforces India’s reputation as a sustainable and responsible seafood exporter.