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

The Sundarbans region of West Bengal in India is inhabited by small-scale farmers and traditional rice paddy-cum-prawn cultivators. Recent policy initiatives by the Government of India may facilitate expansion of commercial shrimp aquaculture in the future, setting the stage for potential conflicts between local stakeholders. We used qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse the preferences of local stakeholders for alternative management options related to shrimp aquaculture development in the region. We then derived management recommendations for the development of shrimp aquaculture in the region that would minimize the environmental impacts of shrimp aquaculture, distribute the economic benefits of shrimp aquaculture more equally and develop alternative opportunities for income generation, especially for shrimp Fry Collectors.     

我国对虾养殖净收益影响因素分析

海水养殖是海洋经济重要的组成部分。中国是世界上最大的对虾养殖国,对虾养殖净收益直接影响对虾养殖户的生产积极性,进而影响对虾养殖产业持续稳定健康发展。文章以山东省、江苏省和广东省对虾养殖户的调查数据为依据,运用多元线性回归模型,对对虾养殖净收益的影响因素进行实证分析。结果表明,影响对虾养殖净收益的3个主要因素是:①每年对虾养殖的造数;②是否参加对虾养殖农业合作社;③对虾出塘的销售价格。对虾养殖者的年龄,受教育程度,是否混养其他品种生物,养殖模式,养殖面积对对虾养殖净收益影响不显著。基于回归结果,笔者提出完善对虾养殖基础设施;发展对虾养殖农业合作社和养殖协会;建立稳定的对虾市场价格调控体系等政策建议。     

Work sharing in Kerala's fisheries

Earlier studies suggest that once population growth and market integration reach a certain critical level, traditional practices of work sharing tend to degenerate or disappear altogether. Work sharing has, however, survived to date in small-scale fisheries in Kerala, India. Artisanal fishermen strongly favor the system, for ethical reasons as well as for their personal benefit. Besides, boat owners appear not to be hindered by the system. Contrary to observations in crop production, work sharing has not inhibited the introduction of modern technologies like motorization.     

A desert in the delta: Participatory assessment of changing livelihoods induced by commercial shrimp farming in Southwest Bangladesh

In recent years, shrimp aquaculture, which is undertaken largely in the tropical countries, has experienced spectacular growth in response to expanding global demand and higher economic return. Shrimp exports bring substantial foreign exchange to the producing countries and also generate employment for various stakeholders related to this industry. Despite a number positive aspects (e.g., foreign exchange, employment and food) of shrimp farming, the industry has serious negative environmental impacts. Because of the degradation of natural resources, commercial shrimp farming imposes socio-economic costs on rural resource-reliant communities as their traditional means of food production and livelihoods are displaced. Bangladesh produces 2.5 percent of the global production of shrimp. The country earned about 400 million dollars (U.S.) from shrimp exports during 2004-2005, up from only US$3.17 million in 1971-72. Bangladesh is suffering because of unplanned expansion of this aquaculture and increasingly called as “a desert in the delta”. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of commercial saltwater shrimp farming on rural livelihood patterns in southwest Bangladesh using different Participatory Research methods. The authors suggest that vulnerabilities in livelihoods of the rural communities increased due to narrowing down agricultural production, income sources and natural supply of food. Other socio-economic impacts (e.g., landuse patterns, homestead and family structure, daily movement pattern and activities, drinking water, and law and order) also followed as a reaction to the changing ecological conditions. It is also found that economic benefits from shrimp cultivation to the communities was minimal or even negative due to the polarization and outflow of profits, which is augmenting the threat of poverty.     

珠江口红树林基围养殖生态开发模式评述

起源于珠江三角洲的红树林基围(land-based enclosure)养殖传统模式是红树林可持续利用和生态开发范例之一。本文介绍了珠江口红树林基围养殖生态开发模式的3个个例: 仅存香港米埔红树林自然保护区的传统基围养殖运作历史和演变, 及其候鸟生境、养殖、观鸟、环境教育综合功能的实现; 珠海淇澳岛大围湾红树林传统和粗放式基围养殖试验和围内水位盐度等环境条件变化对红树林生长影响的研究; 伶仃洋东岸海上田园红树林海水种植-集约式养殖系统试验和红树林净化水质研究。在珠江口红树林保护管理及海域污染防治过程中建议重视红树林可持续利用模式的研究和推广, 建立新的基围养殖示范区, 大力推广红树林基围养殖的生态开发模式, 探索毁林养殖区红树林友好式整治模式, 改善红树林基围养殖技术提高养殖产量, 加强红树林基围养殖系统相关科学研究。     

Shrimp aquaculture: economic perspectives for policy development

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of shrimp aquaculture from the perspectives of economics. It is offered as a contribution to the on-going policy debate on this globally important industry. The paper is organised into four sections: the benefits of shrimp aquaculture, the problems of shrimp aquaculture, economic development perspectives on shrimp aquaculture, and conclusions. Four main conclusions are drawn: there is a lack of independent analysis of the factors affecting the production strategies of private firms in the shrimp industry; there is a need to overcome polarisation in order to promote sustainable shrimp aquaculture; wider perspectives on shrimp aquaculture will be beneficial to policy formation; and it is in the long-run self-interest of shrimp producers to incorporate the external costs of production into planning decisions. The paper includes a review of the international literature which provides a valuable resource for policy-makers.     

Impacts of shrimp farming in Bangladesh: Challenges and alternatives

Shrimp farming is growing in Bangladesh due to suitable agro-climatic conditions, adequate water resources, cheap labour force, international donor agencies and the involvement of multinational corporations. Although it provides immediate economic benefits, contributes to poverty reduction and food security, as well as generates employment from seed collectors to exporters, it has also been facing a host of challenges. They hinder the sustainable development of this otherwise thriving sector. This paper aims to expound the hindrances and challenges for sustainable shrimp farming in Bangladesh by means of reviewing the available scientific literature. It finds that socioeconomic impacts such as traditional livelihood displacement, social unrests and market fluctuations are hindering the sustainable development of shrimp farming in Bangladesh. Similarly, environmental impacts such as mangrove degradation, salt water intrusion, sedimentation, pollution and disease outbreaks are found to be obstacles for the development of sustainable shrimp farming. Inappropriate management practices and inadequate plans regarding water quality, seed supply, irrigation facilities and fishery resources, added to institutional weaknesses, jeopardize the future growth of shrimp farming. Therefore, this paper shall provide substantial input to set the directions that research for alternatives can take and that can contribute to the sustainability of shrimp farming.     

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

India's Sundarbans region lies within the state of West Bengal and is part of the world's largest mangrove ecosystem. Low-intensity shrimp aquaculture is present, but the potential exists for more intensive development. We argue for avoiding environmental damage and social conflict by adopting appropriate policies now. In this study, we combine ecological simulations and a choice experiment to evaluate several policy scenarios. Such comparative evaluations combining different disciplinary tools are rare. While our ecological modelling supports severe restrictions on shrimp farming activities, local stakeholders prefer a more diverse strategy. Both models indicate that large-scale commercial shrimp aquaculture is least desirable.     

Spatial analysis of the impact of shrimp culture on the coastal wetlands on the Northern coast of Sinaloa, Mexico

In the Mexican coasts, as in many tropical and subtropical coastal areas, shrimp culture grew exponentially over the last three decades. This process has produced an intense debate on the economic benefits but also about the extent and intensity of the impact of this activity on the coastal ecosystems, particularly the effects of pond construction on mangrove areas and other coastal wetlands. For the Northern coast of Sinaloa (Northwest Mexico), a region where shrimp culture is actively practiced and reproduces most of the shrimp controlled production model in Mexico, a land cover change-detection analysis, with Landsat images, outputs that 75% of the shrimp farming in this region has been built on saltmarshes while less than 1% was constructed on mangrove areas. Through the estimation of landscape metrics for different scenarios (with and without shrimp culture infrastructure), we find that in addition to direct removal of saltmarshes, shrimp aquaculture has significantly modified the spatial patterns of coastal wetlands, retreating wetland borders and fragmenting their patches. These last impacts are mainly related with the development of the linear infrastructure associated with shrimp culture (drainage channels and roads), rather than the construction of the ponds. Present findings and other from similar studies done in Northwest Mexico; allow us to estimate that 60% of shrimp farming in Mexico impacted directly on saltmarshes, contrasting with the 3% of shrimp farms built on mangroves.     

GIS for land evaluation for shrimp farming in Haiphong of Vietnam

This study was conducted to identify appropriate sites for shrimp farming development in Haiphong province of Vietnam using geographical information systems (GIS). Thirteen base layers (thematic maps) were grouped into four main land use requisites for aquaculture, namely, (1) potential for pond construction (slope, land use type, soil thickness, elevation), (2) soil quality (soil type, soil texture, soil pH), (3) water availability (distance to sea, and water source), and (4) infrastructure and socio-economical status (population density, distance to roads, local markets, and hatcheries). A constraint layer was used to exclude areas from suitability maps that were not allowed to implement shrimp farming. A series of GIS models was developed to identify and prioritize the most suitable areas for shrimp farming.This study shows that the land evaluation model is useful for identifying suitable areas for shrimp farming and for allocating land for efficient income generation, effective conservation, and sustainable land management. It was estimated that about 31% (2604 ha) of the total land area (8281 ha) in Haiphong was highly suitable for shrimp farming. Since existing shrimp farms cover only 1690 ha of land in the study area, the potential for expanding shrimp farms should take into consideration further political and environmental issues.     

Can start-up motives influence social-ecological resilience in community-based entrepreneurship setting? Case of coastal shrimp farmers in Sri Lanka

The aim of this paper is to understand the extent to which the start-up motives can influence social-ecological resilience in community-based entrepreneurship setting. The case study approach was used to study five coastal communities in northwestern Sri Lanka. Shrimp farmers’ start-up motives include both the desire to capitalize on opportunities to utilize their resources and skills (opportunity-driven) and the need to establish satisfactory sources of income (necessity-driven). They have come up with diverse entrepreneurial responses to face various stressors and shocks by using their existing capital types and their willingness for collaboration. Farmers’ coping capacity is demonstrated through their individual responses whereas adaptive and transformative capacities are demonstrated mostly through their community cooperative work. Findings also reveal that the start-up motives of small-scale shrimp farmers are less influential on their social-ecological resilience in the community setting. Instead, the key to social-ecological resilience lies with the understanding of the nature of stressors and their commitment for collective action.     

海水垂向入侵问题研究进展

随着全球气候变暖,风暴潮在沿海地区的频率和强度均可能增长,由此引发的海水垂向入侵可能会造成大面积的含水层淡水咸化。同时,由人类活动引起的沿海虾塘咸水养殖规模日益增长,由此引发的咸水垂向入侵可能会导致沿海地区地下水水质及生态环境的恶化。虽然已有一部分学者在海水(咸水)垂向入侵的研究中取得了成果,但由于海水(咸水)垂向入侵过程复杂,其对地下水咸化及恢复规律依然有待深入研究。文章阐述了海水垂向入侵的危害及前人的研究办法,总结了他们的研究成果并得出了海水垂向入侵的影响因子,指出了洪水和养殖活动对沿海地区含水层的威胁。得出的结果如下:研究海水垂向入侵常用的方法包括室内试验和数值模拟;海水垂向入侵主要与地形地貌、含水层性质和水文气象条件有关;虾塘养殖等人类活动可能会成为垂向咸水入侵的潜在来源。建议未来在海水垂向入侵研究中将多种现场观测实验方法结合起来。数值模拟应注重与现场观测实验数据相互验证,模型简化的方式有必要仔细考虑。虾塘养殖等人类活动可能造成的垂向咸水入侵问题应更多地受到关注。     

Trade intervention: Not a silver bullet to address environmental externalities in global aquaculture

Aquaculture has been the world’s fastest growing food production technology in recent decades, and continued growth in aquaculture production is predicted. While creating economic opportunity, aquaculture is also a new way of using eco-systems, and there is substantial evidence that aquaculture creates negative environmental externalities. Although the most effective way to address these externalities may be improved governance, this approach is often difficult because most aquaculture production takes place in developing countries with limited management capacity. The fact that a large part of aquaculture production is traded motivates substantial interest in the use of trade measures to reduce environmental impacts. However, the wide variety of species, production practices, and governance systems present in aquaculture makes it unlikely that general trade measures will achieve environmental objectives. Rather, there is a real risk that trade measures will reduce economic opportunity, raise new equity concerns, and impinge on public health with little or no environmental impact.     

Fishermen perception on resources management and aquaculture development in the Mecoacan estuary,Tabasco, Mexico

The southern Mexican states on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico produce approximately 85% of the total national oil production. The region has also attracted attention due its important economic influence in terms of fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture, and for its ecosystem diversity. The justification for more integrated approaches to aquaculture development is significant, as coastal aquaculture has brought economic and employment benefits to both national economies and coastal people. The aim of this study is the analysis of Mecoacan fishing communities’ perception on coastal resources management and to assess group awareness of the potential benefits and impacts of coastal aquaculture. Although aquaculture practices have been implemented as an alternative to fishing and to improve current levels of fisheries production, the results showed that conditions within Mecoacan fisheries have deteriorated significantly, as collective aggregation is not producing a positive outcome for the local communities. However, fishermen regarded the restructuring of fishing organisations as a means of integrating employment and income generation alternatives such as aquaculture practices. Therefore, a key to success will be to demonstrate the ability of good coastal management to promote capacity building within coastal communities in the context of a participatory intervention strategy through formal and informal organisations.     

南美白对虾工厂化养殖成本收益分析 ——以山东省为例

文章借鉴国内外传统模式以及工厂化模式下水产养殖、对虾养殖成本收益分析指标体系的设立方法和相关研究理论,以山东省为例,于2016—2019年实地采集得到样本数据,对南美白对虾工厂化养殖模式下的成本收益进行分析。结果表明：①2016—2019年山东省工厂化养殖南美白对虾的总成本呈波动上升趋势,其中可变成本远高于固定成本;②在成本结构方面,工厂化养殖模式下固定成本中最大支出项为固定资产折旧,设备维修费近年来增长明显,可变成本中饲料费用、水电煤费、虾苗费用为主要成本项,其中饲料费用占比最大且呈持续上升趋势;③2016—2019年山东省南美白对虾工厂化养殖的净利润稍有减少,尤其在2018年经历了断崖式下滑,4年来成本利润率和销售利润率降低,养殖利润水平、盈利水平均有所下降;④2016—2019年净利润对于价格、饲料费用、水电煤费、苗种费用的敏感性依次由高到低,2018年养殖效益较差的情况下各项敏感系数绝对值均有所增加。     

Coastal aquaculture,mangrove deforestation and blue carbon emissions: Is REDD+ a solution?

Globally, coastal aquaculture particularly shrimp farming has been under huge criticism because of its environmental impacts including devastating effects on mangrove forests. However, mangroves are ecologically and economically important forests, and the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics that provide a wide range of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. Carbon emissions are likely to have been the dominant cause of climate change and blue carbon emissions are being critically augmented through mangrove deforestation. Because of mangrove deforestation, different climatic variables including coastal flooding, cyclone, drought, rainfall, salinity, sea-level rise, and sea surface temperature have dramatic effects on coastal aquaculture. Mangrove forests have been instrumental in augmenting resilience to climate change. The “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD)” program can help to restore mangroves which in turn increases options for adaptation to climate change. However, technical and financial assistance with institutional support are needed to implement REDD+.     

东南亚养虾之现况与展望

东南亚是世界虾类养殖的重心地区,而白虾已成为世界养虾中最重要的虾种.中国为世界养虾产量最多的地区.在东南亚的养虾中,白虾的产量占总产量的比例从2004年的62%增加到2006年的76%,而草虾产量占总产量的比例则从38%减少到24%.但是印度、印度尼西亚与孟加拉国等地区的草虾产量不减反增,其中以印度为最,这与当地低密度的放养方式生产的较大体形的草虾有关.美国和日本的养虾产量由于供过于求,故虾价仍缓慢下跌,若养殖业者能把握虾价较高的季节(9月至次年1月)并生产大型虾类,则养殖利润仍高,越南的草虾即为一例.文中还提及白虾超高密度养殖的成功方法,许多地区的每季白虾生产可达40t·hm<'-2>以上;淡水区白虾养殖可不必加以禁养,因其对环境的危害影响仍不明显.本文最后还提出发展虾类养殖的科研重点,以供有识者参考.     

Implementation barriers to establishing a sustainable coastal aquaculture sector

For much of the last century, the prerequisites for establishing a new primary industry were property rights to secure access to the required natural resources, the appropriate technology, brood stock and labour, and a willing investor. In contrast, in many western nations although all these prerequisites have been in place for the establishment of new coastal marine farming sectors, fledgling aquaculture operations have failed to establish. A prime reason for this is that under increasingly consultative integrated coastal zone management regimes, local stakeholders are expressing a desire for prospective aquaculture operations to demonstrate that they will be sustainable. Many potential marine farmers and regulatory authorities have stumbled on this demand and the work presented here aims to elucidate the nature of sustainability in a coastal aquaculture context and provide a framework for investigating these critical ‘non-traditional’ factors limiting the establishment and development of coastal aquaculture activities.     

Technical, economics and environmental analysis of semi-intensive shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming in Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit states, at the east coast of the Gulf of California, México

In Mexico shrimp pond aquaculture is the main activity and contributes with 45.9% of the total fisheries volume and 74.3% of gross profit generated by the national products, being Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit in the east coast of the Gulf of California the states generating around 70% of region gross profit. The main species cultivated is the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, and for this reason academic and government sector devoted much attention in this species, however, still researching on economic feasibility is scarce and needed. In this paper, the technical, economics, production and environment parameters of 80 semi-intensive commercial in these states are analyzed and discussed. The results showed the main external constraints affecting short and long run farm performance. The overall observations pointed out that there is an increase on yield and income when shrimp farms invest in higher quality inputs such as equipment and technology for more efficiency in using water, use of certified post-larvae and better design of farm facility. Nevertheless, further research is needed to adjust shrimp production strategies to specific farm requirement by investing in premium quality inputs. Furthermore, the most serious threat from shrimp aquaculture is the potential effect on water quality and the infrastructure associated, that having more serious effects on the environment, particularly in the coastal wetlands. The economic and the environment care must be driven to lead a more sustainable scenario.