Born and Bred: The Rise of Shrimp Aquaculture in a Changing Climate
Article written by Jillian Wong - RYNAN Technologies
A relatively young entrant to the animal husbandry industry, shrimp aquaculture is emerging as a popular source of animal protein for the world. But first, it needs to overcome challenges from climate change and infectious diseases to produce for the future.
With the world population expected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050, we are running out of natural resources to sustain our food system. From depleting arable land and over-exploiting oceans for food, we are now turning to aquaculture to solve our food crisis.
Aquaculture is the breeding, raising, and harvesting of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic animals as food and it is now the fastest-growing food production sector in the world. As the demand for seafood soars together with a surging global population, aquaculture becomes a crucial source of animal protein and a possible solution for food security. In 2030, 90 percent of all aquatic animal production will be for human consumption. Production for high-value species such as trout, salmon, and the ever-popular shrimp is also projected to grow further.
How Shrimp Farming Began
Although shrimp has been harvested for centuries, it began as an incidental catch when wild shrimp fry entered into coastal enclosures that were meant for milkfish, mullet, and other finned fishes. In the process of harvesting milkfish and mullet, shrimp was collected as a by-product without any extra effort by the farmers.
It was only in the 1930s that modern shrimp farming evolved, thanks to a Japanese ichthyologist named Motosaku Fujinaga. The shrimp that was successfully spawned and cultivated for the first time was the Kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus). Kuruma prawns are delicacies in Japan, usually kept alive until they make it to the dining table as raw sushi or deep-fried tempura. High demand for shrimp had quickly diminished its supply, with the shortage escalating into a culinary crisis.
In 1934, Motosaku Fujinaga’s success in spawning and growing Kuruma larvae in captivity earned him the moniker “The Father of Shrimp Farming.” With his remarkable first breakthrough in shrimp farming technology, the supply of postlarvae grew exponentially and commercial shrimp farming soon took off in other countries with different shrimp species by the 1970s.
Farmed shrimp production grew rapidly from the 1980s into the 1990s, and has evolved into a profitable trade attracting investments over the past two to three decades. The most common species of farmed shrimp are Penaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (giant tiger prawn). Today, farmed shrimp accounts for 55 percent of the shrimp produced globally. Yet, this business comes at a cost, one that is fraught with numerous challenges.
Climate Risk To Shrimp Aquaculture
One of the most imminent risks to aquaculture is climate change. Climate change impacts aquaculture through changes in sea levels from extreme climatic events, causing fluctuations in rainfall, droughts, tidal floods, and algal blooms. Rainfall, for instance, has a huge impact on shrimp culture. Water variables such as salinity, temperature, pH levels, and nutrients can affect the presence of Vibrio, which can cause disease outbreaks that affect the growth and survival of penaeid shrimp.
Environmental Impacts From Shrimp Aquaculture
While shrimp aquaculture has to fend against the effects of climate change, it has also caused detrimental effects on the environment. Many shrimp farms discharge effluent directly into the environment. The discharge containing feed, antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and fecal waste pollutes water and the health of ecosystems and coastal habitats. Farmers also pump out groundwater to fill their ponds to maintain water quality and salinity levels, resulting in seawater intrusion. Furthermore, the unplanned expansion of shrimp farming has led to the massive destruction of mangroves and other wetland habitats.
Mangroves play a critical role in mitigating climate change. They form the foundation of productive ecosystems on our planet, providing homes, nursing, and feeding grounds for biodiversity. These forests are also capable of removing discharges from shrimp ponds. Their dense roots stabilize coastlines, forging a natural fortress against floods, storm surges, and sea-level rise while mangrove peat takes in water during heavy rains and reduces coastal flooding. With the rapid loss of mangroves, shrimp ponds are exposed to storm surges and flooding. Water quality for shrimp farming deteriorates and shrimp culture becomes even more vulnerable to diseases.
Learn more as we discuss the sustainability in the aquaculture industry and the potential viability of climate change.
Vulnerability To Diseases
Diseases are a primary culprit of the boom-and-bust production cycles in shrimp aquaculture and may increase with global warming, as thermally stressed farmed shrimps can develop weakened immune systems and become more susceptible to diseases. Common diseases include white spot disease, yellow head disease, and Early Mortality Syndrome (Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis).
When farmers release contaminated wastewater and sediment from their ponds into receiving waters without proper wastewater treatment, the pathogens spread easily into neighboring ponds. Effluents high in organic matter can also result in oxygen depletion in receiving waters and cause further harm.
As lower-yield extensive aquaculture systems are being gradually replaced by semi-intensive or intensive systems which promise higher yields, disease risks increase with culture intensity and high stocking densities. Expansion and intensification of aquaculture systems face risks of concentrated wastes in the effluent. When such wastes accumulate too quickly, farmers may resort to increased use of antibiotics and chemicals to control and treat polluted water, which can result in antibiotic-resistant pathogens with devastating consequences.
Shrimp Farming In A Changing Climate: Can We Do Better?
While aquaculture already makes notable contributions to global food security, reaching aquaculture’s full sustainable potential will require every stakeholder in the value chain to play its part, from suppliers to farmers, governments, and the consumer.
For example, government intervention may be needed to curb unplanned shrimp farms or limit the area of planned shrimp farms to prevent further mangrove destruction. Intensification of existing shrimp farms can be considered over developing new farms. Legislation may be required on designs of shrimp ponds to ensure better water supply, wastewater treatment and discharge systems, and improved pond infrastructure. The 20th century saw a massive transformation of shrimp aquaculture through intensification and technology. The road ahead may require a digital transformation with complete traceability to drive shrimp farming toward a future of sustainability. Incentives, regulations, taxations, grants, certifications, and education schemes are just some of the ways that the government can collaborate with shrimp suppliers and producers, feed manufacturers, and middlemen.
As for us, the shrimp-loving consumer, we can create a demand for sustainable shrimps. Only by demanding sustainable shrimps, shrimp producers will be economically motivated to take responsible steps towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly shrimp farming.
View how RYNAN Aquaculture, utilizes TOMGOXY to create a sustainable ecosystem for shrimp farming in Vietnam.
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:
The State of World Fisheries & Aquaculture - Meeting The Sustainable and Development Goals, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome 2018
The State of World Fisheries & Aquaculture - Towards Blue Transformation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome 2022
The State of World Fisheries & Aquaculture - Sustainability in Action, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome 2020
Farmed Shrimp, worldwildlife.org
‘Shrimp Farming and the Environment - Can shrimp farming be undertaken sustainably?’, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific