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The Sundarbans is a globally significant and unique mangrove eco-region. It stretches across the territories of India and Bangladesh facing the Bay of Bengal. The eco-region, apart from supporting the largest tiger population in the world is also home to over 4.5 million people, on the Indian side. The majority of the population is poor and their dependence on eco-resources is high. A large section is engaged in shrimp seed collection, which has emerged as a viable economic activity over the past two decades. However, the activity is ecologically demanding. The present paper examines the issues of sustainability and precariousness of the practice of shrimp seed collection, the collectors, as well as of the ecosystem. In light of the activity, sustaining the human population and the process of human development in the Sundarbans islands over a long term appear doubtful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]