Shrimp and the Environment

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the extreme environmental consequences resulting from the production of shrimp, both via aquaculture and through trawling the ocean floor. It also outlines some policy suggestions to limit the environmental damage caused by this industry.

From the Paper:

"When ponds stop producing, there are generally no attempts whatsoever to reconstruct the landscape that existed before their installation. In the economically constrained areas where most of these farms are located, it is simply not economically feasible for the average farmer to do anything else, and as a result, an inordinate amount of completely unproductive land is left in the wake of the ponds. From 1985-1995 alone, 150,000 hectares of land previously used for shrimp farming worldwide was abandoned, and indications are that abandonment rates are rapidly rising (Gujja, Finger-Stich 1996). This land remains wholly unproductive for 20-30 years on average, often leading to collapses of local economies and extreme hardship for residents (Gujja, Finger-Stich 1996)."

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