Evidence of the existence of resistance/tolerance to WSSV in Penaeus monodon

year. As foreign exchange winner, shrimp played a significant role by contributing 49 to 76% (Rs.3645 crores) to total export during 1978-2003. During 1977-88, the shrimp export was just 51,000-55,736 tones, however, from 1988- 89 to 2002-2003 a spectacular growth could be recorded culminating at 1, 34,815 tones. This growth was mainly due to the contributions from aquaculture sector, which in 2002—2003 alone amounted to 1, 15,320 tones. The shrimp production from wild has been gradually declining from 50,000 tones during the eighties to 19,495 tons in 2002-2003 due to over exploitation of commercial species. The Indian tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon is the principal species which contributes to the cultured shrimp production in the country