Impacts of shrimp farming in Bangladesh: Challenges and alternatives

The frozen food export sector, next to readymade garments sector, is the second largest export earner of Bangladesh. Shrimp, main item of frozen food, is a major contributor in the national economy of Bangladesh since mid 1980s. Although it provides millions of employment and earns more than US$ 445 million annually, it has been facing a host of challenges. Shrimp farming has been associated with a number of negative environmental and social impacts which hinder the sustainable development of this blooming sector. This paper aim to focus on how the shrimp culture in Bangladesh is affecting the adjacent environment as well as society and management approach for it’s sustain ability by means of reviewing the available scientific literatures. It finds the grave socioeconomic impacts including traditional livelihood displacement, loss of land security, food insecurity, marginalization, rural unemployment, social unrest and conflicts in the wake of shrimp culture development in Bangladesh. Similarly, environmental impacts such as mangrove degradation, loss of biodiversity, sedimentation, saltwater intrusion, and pollution and disease outbreaks are found to be the main obstacles for the development of sustainable shrimp farming. Inappropriate management practices and inadequate plans regarding water quality, seed supply, irrigation facilities and fishery resources are the main reasons for these impacts of shrimp farming. The effective management measures to mitigate the adverse environmental impact of shrimp farming development have now become urgent requirement.

Impacts of shrimp farming on the coastal environment of Bangladesh and approach for management

Valuing marine and coastal ecosystem services: An integrated participatory framework

Linking prawn and shrimp farming towards a green economy in Bangladesh: confronting climate change

Poor water quality is one of the key environmental problems associated with shrimp and pangasius aquaculture in Vietnam. Several studies exist on the causes and effects of poor water quality, and on possible solutions for effluent control in these two economically important production systems. However, only a small number of Vietnamese farms apply these reduction options, raising questions over the state-enforced compliance with legislated water-quality measures. Voluntary standards and certification networks have recently emerged as alternative forms of water-quality governance in Vietnamese aquaculture. This paper examines a number of ongoing and interlinked international, national and community level initiatives on (voluntary) standards and certification that aim to promote sustainable shrimp and pangasius aquaculture in Vietnam. The results indicate the potential, but also challenges, in the development and implementation of national and international standards and demonstrate the need for more attent...

The Multi-Level Environmental Governance of Vietnamese Aquaculture: Global Certification, National Standards, Local Cooperatives

Assessing prospects for shrimp culture in the Indian Sundarbans: A combined simulation modelling and choice experiment approach

Eliciting stakeholder preferences: An application of qualitative and quantitative methods to shrimp aquaculture in the Indian Sundarbans

The Indian Sundarbans, in West Bengal, is inhabited by small-scale farmers and traditional paddy-cum-prawn cultivators; however, this unique region is also ideal for large-scale commercial shrimp aquaculture. Recent policy initiatives may facilitate expansion of commercial shrimp aquaculture in India, potentially setting the stage for conflict between different stakeholders in the Indian Sundarbans. This research project presents policymakers with an ex ante analysis of four alternative development scenarios, based on a more participatory approach to the decision making process. Using a contingent choice modelling methodology to quantify the preferences of local stakeholders for economic, social, and environmental attributes, policymakers and local stakeholders can measure and compare the preferences of local stakeholders for alternative management options. Local stakeholders, including shrimp fry collectors, shrimp farmers, and agricultural farmers, prefer a sustainable approach to development in the region, especially with respect to the management of mangrove forests, and access to alternative income generating opportunities.

http://summit.sfu.ca/system/files/iritems1/2375/etd2186.pdf

Neil Philcox

Papers

Assessing prospects for shrimp culture in the Indian Sundarbans: A combined simulation modelling and choice experiment approach

Eliciting stakeholder preferences: An application of qualitative and quantitative methods to shrimp aquaculture in the Indian Sundarbans

An application of contingent choice modelling to assess environmental management options in the shrimp-mangrove system in the Indian Sundarbans