Environmental and Environmental and Socioeconomic Risks ofSocioeconomic Risks of

Shrimp AquacultureShrimp Aquaculture

Erin Farrell, Erin Farrell, Chris Lang, Chris Lang, Sarah Von LehmanSarah Von LehmanTeam A04-BTeam A04-B

SummarySummary

Environmental and Socio-economic Environmental and Socio-economic Aspects of shrimp aquacultureAspects of shrimp aquaculture Physical environmentPhysical environment Water QualityWater Quality Negative and Positive Socio-economicNegative and Positive Socio-economic

What are the environmental risks What are the environmental risks associated with shrimp aquaculture?associated with shrimp aquaculture?

Problem StatementProblem Statement

Resource intensiveResource intensive High demand for productHigh demand for product Escalation of risksEscalation of risks

Physical Environment: Shift to Physical Environment: Shift to Intensive AquacultureIntensive Aquaculture

Becoming lucrative in early 1980sBecoming lucrative in early 1980s Traditional practicesTraditional practices

One crop per yearOne crop per year 100-500 kg shrimp / hectare100-500 kg shrimp / hectare

Semi-intensive and intensive practicesSemi-intensive and intensive practices 2-3 crops per year2-3 crops per year 1,000-10,000 kg shrimp / hectare1,000-10,000 kg shrimp / hectare

Mangrove Functions & ResourcesMangrove Functions & Resources

Trap sedimentsTrap sediments Process nutrients & organic matterProcess nutrients & organic matter Provide food and habitatProvide food and habitat Protect shorelinesProtect shorelines Provide plant productsProvide plant products

Mangrove DestructionMangrove Destruction

Feed, seed, energy, and fresh waterFeed, seed, energy, and fresh water Lifespan of 5-10 yearsLifespan of 5-10 years 1993-1994 > increase of 200,000 ha of 1993-1994 > increase of 200,000 ha of

shrimp ponds in Asiashrimp ponds in Asia

Water QualityWater Quality

Feed and Gut Passage TimesFeed and Gut Passage Times How fast food is digestedHow fast food is digested

How completely it’s digestedHow completely it’s digested Depends on species and Food ContentDepends on species and Food Content

Uneaten Food, FecesUneaten Food, Feces Eutrophication / AnoxiaEutrophication / Anoxia

Taura Syndrome VirusTaura Syndrome Virus

Shrimp Infected with TSV Healthy Shrimp

Recent studies show possible transferance to mammalian species (including human and monkey)

Other Water Quality IssuesOther Water Quality Issues

Salt water intrusionSalt water intrusion

Nutrient Enrichment (Effluent)Nutrient Enrichment (Effluent) Particulate organic matter (decayed / live plankton)Particulate organic matter (decayed / live plankton) Fertilizers / Insecticides (N and P)Fertilizers / Insecticides (N and P) AntibioticsAntibiotics

Water QualityWater Quality

Turbidity and SedimentationTurbidity and Sedimentation Increasing acreage = soil erosionIncreasing acreage = soil erosion Canals, roads, & other infrastructureCanals, roads, & other infrastructure Plants intolerant of salinityPlants intolerant of salinity

Pond area in production in southern Honduras from 1985 to 2000

Positive Shrimp CulturePositive Shrimp Culture

EconomicEconomic $56.47 Industry 2000$56.47 Industry 2000 Many communities rely on shrimp cultureMany communities rely on shrimp culture

Sustainable methodsSustainable methods

Use less intense shrimp practicesUse less intense shrimp practices Lower stocking densities resulting in Lower stocking densities resulting in

higher survival rateshigher survival rates Less diseasesLess diseases Less inputs into systemLess inputs into system

Land delegationLand delegation

Rotate between shrimp and riceRotate between shrimp and rice Delegate productive rice fieldsDelegate productive rice fields Education is essentialEducation is essential

EducationEducation

Types of shrimpTypes of shrimp Other possibilities for cropsOther possibilities for crops Using currentsUsing currents Dry season feedDry season feed Less intensiveLess intensive

Negative AspectsNegative Aspects

Local farmers can not competeLocal farmers can not compete Cut off from mangrovesCut off from mangroves Government backingGovernment backing

ConclusionsConclusions

Industry expansionIndustry expansion Water quality and environmental impactsWater quality and environmental impacts EducateEducate Move toward sustainabilityMove toward sustainability