Blue Economy
Input for the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas
Report on Peasant Territories on Land and Sea
South Centre
February 2026
The South Centre has officially submitted its inputs to the UN Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas for their upcoming thematic report on “Peasant Territorialities of Sea and Land.”
Our submission emphasises that realising the rights recognised in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP), particularly Article 17, depends on a fundamental shift in how “territory” is legally understood and economically managed.
The South Centre focuses on:
- How territory must be conceptualised as a socio-ecological space where cultural identity and sustainable production intersect, not merely as a financial asset.
- The dangers of “Blue Economy” industrialisation and “Green Grabbing,” where conservation mechanisms like carbon offsets displace local communities.
- How States should recognise collective tenure rights and protect agrarian reform from Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) challenges.
Climate finance must support peasant agroecology, not displace the very people who steward the land.
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AMR in Aquaculture: Enhancing Indian Shrimp Exports through Sustainable Practices and Reduced Antimicrobial Usage
By Robin Paul
This study on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Indian shrimp farming underscores its critical impact on public health, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. The global scenario with many export rejections on account of persistent residues of antibiotics, reiterate that antimicrobial use in aquaculture, demands urgent global attention.
In the Indian context, the shrimp industry grapples with a delicate balance between production demands and long-term shrimp health. Sustainable practices, including responsible antimicrobial use, are crucial for economic viability, given the industry’s reliance on specific markets like the United States, EU and China.
Sustainable aquaculture emerges as a pivotal solution, supported by government policies and a gradual industry shift towards best practices. However, challenges persist, requiring a comprehensive approach to balance economic interests with environmental conservation. The key challenges remain the large number of small stakeholders and huge geographical spread of farms which make implementation of regulations and sharing of best practices difficult. Traceability and certification programs can play a key role in promoting responsible aquaculture, ensuring transparency and accountability in the supply chain. Technological innovations, including block chain can offer efficient solutions for traceability.
The collaborative action suggested emphasizes the role of government bodies, regulatory agencies, industry players, researchers, and consumers in addressing AMR. Clearer implementable regulatory frameworks aligned with economic and environmental priorities are essential. Looking ahead, the study envisions a future where the blue economy is sustainable not just for the industry’s success but also to protect the wider environment. By enhancing domestic market presence and fostering collaboration with importing countries, the Indian industry can overcome the multiple challenges raised by AMR in shrimp aquaculture.
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