From George Chamberlain, Global Aquaculture Alliance
Arlington, Virginia
Jeff Hecht’s article expressed concerns about shrimp farming, but failed to
report the positive aspects also presented at the recent meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science
(This Week, 21 February, p 11). It is
true that shrimp farmers made some early mistakes, not unlike the growing pains
of any new industry. However, they have advanced considerably.
They have learnt that it makes no ecological or economic sense to destroy
mangrove forests. First, these areas are not well suited for shrimp farming,
because the elevation is too acidic for productive shrimp ponds. Also, mangrove
forests benefit shrimp farming by purifying coastal waters used to replenish the
ponds. Shrimp farmers have developed a Code of Practice for Mangrove Protection,
and satellite imagery has shown that mangrove forests are already increasing in
some shrimp-producing regions.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization consultative meeting on 11 December
1997 in Bangkok, Thailand, concluded that “sustainable shrimp culture is
practised and is a desirable and achievable goal that should be pursued”. In
this spirit, shrimp farmers are working together to develop best management
practices to ensure that the delicate balance between human development and the
environmental health of our resources is not disturbed.
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Shrimp farming is changing rapidly from its semi-wild origins to modern
animal husbandry complete with domesticated lines, pathogen-free stocks, and
highly efficient, environmentally friendly production systems. It is generating
$6 billion in revenue at the farm level and providing thousands of jobs
in some of the world’s poorest countries. Technological advances are rapidly
improving efficiency and environmental compatibility. The real news in this
young industry is its rapid progress and bright future.
