Good Shrimp, Bad Shrimp: How Shrimp Farming Practices Impact The Environment. (Part 1)

Written By rynan technologies

Article written by Jillian Wong - RYNAN Technologies

In this Part 1 of 2 in a series on how shrimp farming practices affect the shrimp industry and consumers, we explore how the adoption of different aquaculture practices in shrimp farming each has consequential effects on the environment.  For a country like Vietnam that is reliant on seafood exports, can we improve how shrimps are farmed?

Part 2 will discuss the impact on consumer health from excessive antibiotic usage in shrimp aquaculture. (Read it here)

The shrimp business is one of the biggest industries in Vietnam. And it is poised to get even more significant. With the government announcing a target of $10 billion in shrimp exports by 2025, achieving this target will determinately boost Vietnam’s seafood export turnover and expand its market share globally. Aquaculture methods and scientific-technology breakthroughs will play a huge role in ensuring that the goal is in sight. As current shrimp farming practices evolve into more intensive methods for higher yields, it is worthwhile to understand how aquaculture practices can affect the environment, and ultimately impact the shrimp industry in Vietnam.

 
RYNAN Aquaculture - Shrimp farm

Types of Shrimp Aquaculture Farms

Shrimp farms are broadly referred to as extensive, semi-intensive (modified-extensive), and intensive. 

Extensive Systems feature simple, large impoundments that are constructed in coastal areas along bays, tidal rivers, and mangrove forests. They are also known as traditional shrimp farming as they depend on the natural entry of wild shrimp seed into the area and rely on tides to provide water exchange. New water enters during high tide and is drained out at low tide. At high tide, farmers open the sluice gate, trap the wild shrimp (and other crabs and finfish), and grow them to a marketable size. This method usually has a low stocking density. As the shrimps feed only on natural food in the water with no supplemental feed or fertilization, productivity is low. Construction and operating costs are also low.

Semi-intensive Systems are modified versions of extensive systems. Instead of relying on tides for water exchange, these systems require pumps and aerators for water management. Smaller ponds are dug in mangrove forests and juvenile shrimps are introduced in higher stocking densities compared to the extensive system. Feeding is done at regular intervals with shrimp feed and agricultural by-products. Fertilizers are used to promote fast-growing algae and plankton as a natural food for shrimp, and chemicals and pesticides are used to prevent disease outbreaks.   


Intensive Systems, like semi-intensive systems, use smaller ponds but with even higher stocking densities. Hatchery-bred post-larvae are cultivated and fed intensively with artificially formulated feeds to boost productivity. As such, waste removal and water quality need to be continuously monitored. Mechanical aeration is needed to increase dissolved oxygen levels in the pond to facilitate higher stocking densities and feeding levels. Although this form of aquaculture promises higher returns, it can be prone to disease outbreaks, making it also a high-risk method. In the event of outbreaks, ponds have to be chemically treated and drained for cleaning before they can be stocked again.  This system requires around-the-clock management, intensive water treatment, and high financial and technical investments.

 
RYNAN Aquaculture - Shrimp farming practices

A Look At The Shrimp Farming Practices in Vietnam

Although shrimp farming in Vietnam has evolved from extensive to intensive production in several provinces, the majority remains extensive farms run by poor, small-scale household producers. Most of these farmers were previously engaged in rice cultivation or fishing occupations, which yielded meager incomes despite hard work.

Contrastingly, shrimp farming portrayed better incomes with less labor. With climate change threatening rice harvests, the government has been urging locals to switch to crops with higher salinity tolerance, and many rice farmers have since turned to shrimp farming. 

The switch to shrimp aquaculture, however, comes burdened with environmental problems. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that over half of Vietnam’s mangrove forests have been cleared for shrimp ponds. These natural fortresses, which guard against coastal erosion, storm surges, and sea-level rise, have been massively destroyed by unplanned expansion in shrimp farms. Furthermore, as extensive systems move towards semi-intensive or intensive systems, disease risks have also increased with higher stocking densities. Aquaculture intensification has inevitably increased the overuse of antibiotics and chemicals on shrimp farms. These, along with fecal waste and effluent, are discharged directly into surrounding waterways, resulting in antibiotic-resistant pathogens that threaten the entire ecosystem.

 

Can Vietnam Reduce Its Shrimp Carbon Footprint?

RYNAN Aquaculture - Reduce shrimp footprint

Aquaculture is fast becoming a crucial source of animal protein to sustain our global food system. However, shrimp farming is extremely resource-intensive. Wild fish are needed to produce shrimp feed ingredients, and large amounts of land, water, and energy are used for shrimp production. Among these natural resources, production intensity impacts land use most. 

Land use includes not just the land used to farm shrimp, but also the land used for growing plant ingredients required for producing shrimp feed. The latter, termed embodied land, adds to the total land use for shrimp production. Currently, extensive shrimp aquaculture has caused significant land degradation in Vietnam. Yet, consumers are demanding more shrimp worldwide.

As the demand grows globally, the future growth of shrimp farming will have to depend on intensive aquaculture methods for higher yields. In a recent study conducted by WWF, it was found that more intensive shrimp farming can bear better environmental and economic results. The challenge for intensive shrimp aquaculture in Vietnam is to meet the increased production while maximizing the efficiency of land use and conserving the region’s other natural resources.

 

Moving Towards Controlled Intensification In Vietnam

Preventing further mangrove destruction and making more efficient use of land currently used for shrimp farming may achieve the most significant environmental benefits for Vietnam. Firstly, it mitigates the impact of climate change, which is accelerated by the destruction of mangroves and wetlands. Secondly, by protecting coastal zones with high biodiversity, wild fish and aquatic life can thrive. Lastly, by conserving mangroves, the inland population is protected from storm surges, flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion. 

However, intensification alone is not a panacea. Intensive methods are prone to increased disease risks due to high stocking densities. A better way forward is by controlled intensification i.e. harnessing technology to optimize the use of natural resources while increasing shrimp productivity and profitability. By utilizing IoT (Internet of Things), Artificial Intelligence, and connectivity, shrimp farmers can better predict disease outbreaks and control productivity, reduce uncertainties and increase efficiency and traceability. 

By limiting the unplanned expansion of shrimp farms and using land more efficiently through controlled intensification, we can prevent further mangrove destruction, protect biodiversity, and empower shrimp farmers to meet the surging demand for shrimps.

Reimagine the world of aquaculture with technology. Using IoT Solutions for shrimp farming, RYNAN Aquaculture brings to life a complete technological ecosystem for commercial shrimp aquaculture. By challenging traditional farming practices and harnessing the power of innovative technology, we empower farmers with digital know-how for a sustainable and productive aquaculture business. Check out this clip to see how RYNAN Aquaculture is changing Vietnam one step at a time.

If you are interested in what RYNAN Aquaculture does or the future advancements that RYNAN Aquaculture is developing over here, send us a message.

References: 

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