Stories By Richa Gupta
Every seafood journey begins long before it reaches your plate — in the quiet rhythm of shrimp farms, the precision of hatcheries, and the dedication of coastal communities who make it all possible. At Aquabeats, we tell these stories of care, traceability, and innovation that define India’s seafood industry.
From sustainable practices and responsible sourcing to the global markets that trust our produce, each story reflects a commitment to quality and the human spirit behind every harvest. These are the voices, the waters, and the waves that inspire us — the true beats of the seafood world.
Why Indian Shrimp deserves a global spotlight?
India’s shrimp = trust, quality, sustainability.
🌊 From hatchery to harvest, every step tells a global story. 🦐✨
— Richa Gupta, seafood storyteller & founder of Aquabeats.
At Thondi, Every Step Matters—Care, Quality, and Cold Chain You Can Trust.
🎥This film tells the story of how Thondi’s shores connect to global markets.
Watch, share, and let’s celebrate this journey together. 🌊
Why Thondi Squid?
🦑Hand-jigged with care
🧼 Processed hygienically
❄️Frozen with precision
📲Tracked digitally
With India supplying 95% of global Thondi Squid exports, this story isn’t just about seafood—it’s about leadership, community pride, and traditions that keep our oceans thriving.
79th Independence Day 🇮🇳🐟
For years, our nation was ruled.
But we have risen — with the spirit of unity, with the courage of our people, and with the pride of our waters.
We will not bow.
We will remove every trace of bondage — in thought, in opportunity, in trade.
Moving forward is our resolve.
This is Bharat — a nation that carves its own path, from its fields to its seas.
From every fishing village to every port, India’s seafood tells a story of strength, sustainability, and self-reliance.
Industry Collaboration Spotlight: Rethinking the Future of Aquafeeds in India
Every kilo we save from fishmeal today is a kilo we return to coastal plates tomorrow. This week at Aquabeats, I’m focusing on sustainable aquafeed—plant proteins, insect meal, and single-cell proteins that lower costs and protect ecosystems. Shrimp friends, our procurement decisions ripple out to communities from Veraval to The Gambia. If you’re evaluating alternative feeds, I’m happy to compare specs, traceability docs, and supplier reliability—DM or visit aquabeats.in.
Connecting shrimp farmers, exporters, and global buyers — building trust, one wave at a time.
— Richa Gupta, seafood storyteller & founder of Aquabeats.
Mandapam Flower Shrimp: A Journey of Quality, Heritage & Trust
From sea… to plate… every bite tells a story of quality, heritage, and trust. Join me as I take you to Mandapam, where fishing is a craft, sustainability is a practice, and traceability is a promise. Mandapam Flower shrimp— crafted by the ocean, perfected by hand, trusted by the world. — Richa Gupta, seafood storyteller & founder of Aquabeats. MPEDA Seafood Exporters Association of India AquaBeats
— Richa Gupta, seafood storyteller & founder of Aquabeats.
India’s Shrimp: A Call for United Leadership
India’s shrimp sector stands at the edge of transformation—and global examples show us what’s possible.
In Ecuador, *SSP (Sustainable Shrimp Partnership)* helped unite producers under one mission, elevate branding, and set higher standards—earning trust from buyers worldwide.
Today, India has a similar opportunity. With Walmart support backing Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), pilots in Andhra Pradesh are creating landscape-level blueprints for climate-smart, responsible shrimp farming. This isn’t just about a handful of farms—it’s about inspiring an *industry-wide movement* and systemic change.
💡 The question is:
Read More...
India's Black Tiger: The Titanic of Aquaculture
— and Its Second Chance There was a time when *Black Tiger shrimp* wasn’t just a product — it was India’s identity.
From *40,000 MT in the early 1990s*, production soared to *143,000 MT by 2006–07*, earning nearly *USD 800 million* in exports. It was our pride. Our pioneering story. The shrimp that made India synonymous with quality on the global map.
Then came the storms — WSSV outbreaks, rising input costs, and the Vannamei wave. Within years, *Black Tiger* production crashed to *under 39,000 MT* — a fraction of its former glory.
💡 The Comeback Is Personal
Read More...
Every seafood buyer today asks one big question
Can we trust that the fish on our plate will still be there tomorrow? The answer lies in one word: sustainability.
Across the world, we’re seeing change. Nearly one in five fish caught globally now comes from a fishery that’s either certified or on its way to certification. Whitefish species like Alaska pollock, New Zealand hoki, and South African hake have already crossed the line — in fact, 75% of global whitefish is now Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified. That’s massive progress.
Read More...
Can compassion make shrimp farming more productive?
🦐What if less intervention meant more strength?
For years, eyestalk ablation was seen as essential for shrimp maturation and nauplii production. But science is rewriting that story — and the results are transforming both welfare and profitability. Studies by Dr. Simao Zacarias (University of Stirling) show that non-ablated females perform just as well—or even better—than ablated ones. Their offspring don’t just survive – they thrive:
💪 Higher disease resistance
🌊 Better stress tolerance
🐣Healthier post-larvae
Read More...
🌊 India’s Tuna Moment Is Here
India has one of the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones — 2.02 million sq km.
🌴Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands alone account for nearly 47% of it.
And in the heart of these waters lies an untapped strength: Tuna.
🐟 The Indian Ocean produces '22% of the world’s tuna', yet less than 10% is certified.
💡 Lakshadweep can change that.
Read More...
Inside India’s Shrimp Industry: The Hidden Story of Labor Safety & Responsible Sourcing
🎥 In this week’s story, I’m spotlighting the hands behind India’s shrimp success — and the quiet revolution redefining labor safety. From rest areas to digital wage systems, from audits to awareness — we’re proving that ethical assurance can stand beside microbial assurance. Change isn’t easy. It’s built choice by choice, worker by worker. Let’s keep this conversation visible — because responsible sourcing begins with responsible workplaces.
— Richa Gupta, seafood storyteller & founder of Aquabeats.
How India Is Redefining Shrimp Processing for Europe’s Premium Market | 100% Processed in India 🇮🇳
In Europe, convenience is king — and shrimp is its crown jewel. India’s processors are reimagining seafood for the EU’s premium segment — with new units, advanced tech, and stronger traceability, 100% Processed in India!
We’re not reacting to global shifts — we’re building the future of trusted processing. Let’s tell this story together.
— Richa Gupta, seafood storyteller & founder of Aquabeats.
World Fisheries Day: India’s Big Leap Toward Digital Seafood Traceability
North America, Europe and Asia want convenience, consistency and a lighter climate footprint. They are reaching for peeled, portioned, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat seafood rather than big blocks of raw product. In this world, “less is more”: * fewer SKUs with stronger stories * fewer suppliers with deeper partnerships * fewer origin risks with higher trust and better margins The big questions before us are: 1️⃣ How do we move from being a commodity supplier to a value-driven, differentiated, trusted seafood country? 2️⃣ How do we compete not on price — but on credibility, innovation, and quality? But none of this can happen in silos.
Read More...
India’s Digital Seafood Traceability: FDA 204, EU DPP & GDST Compliance Explained
Unsafe food affects millions — and seafood, one of the world’s most traded proteins, carries enormous responsibility. As global rules tighten — FDA Rule 204 in the U.S., the EU’s Digital Product Passport, and GDST standards — one message is clear: interoperable digital traceability is the new global baseline. India is ready with farm IDs, export-level digital certificates, vessel registration, and a rapidly digitizing supply chain. But tools alone don’t create trust — people do. This is a culture shift, not just a compliance shift. Let’s make India’s seafood story one of visibility, credibility, and global confidence.
India’s New Food Safety & Digital Traceability Framework | AMR Surveillance to Export Compliance
How India moved from being 'policy blind' to building a science-driven 'food safety architecture'. It began in 2017, when the Government of India and FAO launched a national AMR surveillance programme — the first step toward understanding 'where' and 'why' antibiotic risks were emerging. What followed was a strict, multi-layered food safety system, and today how the 'National Framework for Digital Traceability' will connect CAA, MPEDA and EIC into one integrated digital backbone.
Read More...