The Brackishwater sector is an important area of pisciculture in the three coastal districts of West Bengal. In West Bengal, there are about 60000 hectare area is under culture out of 91000 ha of backwaters. Vennamei shrimp (L.vennamei) is an important cultivable fish species with a huge local and export market. Farmers are undertaking brackish water farming is mostly interested in vennamei shrimp farming due to its faster growth rate, less disease prone and suitability for high stocking density which is done in the coastal area. Most of the aquaculture farmers are shifting their business in these coastal areas from tiger shrimp to Vennamei shrimp culture. Extensive/improved extensive farming is mainly concentrated with proper management strategies, high quality pelletized feed & artificial aeration system; farmers are capable to achieve the production @ 5-6 MT/ha/crop for L. vennamei. For undertaking shrimp culture registration from the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (through District level committee) is required. To extend the Vennamei shrimp farming Fisheries Department has formulated a scheme to be implemented on three coastal districts-PurbaMedinipur, South-24-Parganas and Nort-24-Parganas.

Assistance under this scheme has been provided in terms of Vannamei shrimp Seeds (Avg. PL-15-18 stocking density 35 pc / m2) as Government Contributions. Beneficiary contributions are Hydrated lime, Dolomite, Urea, Feed, Single Super Phosphate, Probiotics, and Prophylactics. The unit area of the Scheme is 1.0 bigha.

• Government assistance is of Rs. 35750.00. Only Vennami Shrimp seed is provided under this schemes. Feed and other components are being arranged by beneficiaries.