Re: Appeal do save Brazilian mangroves from shrimp farmers

Posted by CRMP on October 01, 1999 at 19:31:03:

In Reply to: Appeal do save Brazilian mangroves from shrimp farmers posted by Henrique de Barros on July 17, 1999 at 16:43:19:

Shrimp farming is profitable, but it may have adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts. This is what happened in Southeast Asia:
1. Dislocation of coastal dwellers
2. Deprivation of income/livelihood of community dependent on mangroves
3. Substantial decrease in fish production due to loss of habitat and detritus -- about 1.08 tons of fish yearly for every hectare of mangrove lost
4. Potential damage to adjacent mangroves due to alteration of tidal flow/inundation caused by dikes/road network which may increase salinity
5. On reforestation as mitigating measure, there is no guarantee that this is going to be successful in areas where mangroves have never naturally existed
6. Southeast Asian countries now realize the ill effects of the wholesale conversion of their mangroves to shrimp/fishponds. They are now trying to introduce Mangrove Friendly Aquaculture (MFA) in appropriate areas. MFA refers to a system whereby shrimp and mangrove are allowed to grow in one place at the same time.

For additional input on the subject, please contact:
Dr. Jurgenne H. Primavera/Dr. Theodora Bagarinao
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)
Tigbauan, Iloilo

You may also download the following publications from the download section of this site:
Coastal Resource Management for Food Security
The Values of Philippine Coastal Resources: Why Protection and Management are Critical

: The state government of Pernambuco, Northeast coast of Brazil, is
: pushing a legislation to consider shrimp farming as an activity of
: social priority for mangrove clearing. It is been publicised that
: projects in the pipeline will introduce an initial 900 hectares of
: shrimp farms along the state coast.
: Arguments listed by the state government to back its initiative
: includes:

: 1. Shrimp farming is a highly profitable activity, specially in Asia,
: and is a net job generator;
: 2. Incidental environmental damages by shrimp farming can be solved by
: simple measures of environmental control and regulation;
: 3. The clearing of mangroves can be mitigated by the "reforestation" of
: new areas.

: Concerned with the environmental consequences of this initiative, we are
: looking for international evidence against all or any of the above
: listed points. If you know any references easely available on electronic
: media, or people we can contact, it will be of most help.

: Henrique de Barros, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco

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