“I say to those who eat shrimp-and only the rich people from industrialized countries eat shrimp-I say they are eating the blood, sweat, and livelihoods of the poor people of the Third World.” --Shri Banke Behary Das, Indian environmental activist
Friday, February 22, 2013
Shrimp Aquaculture: Videos
If you are interested in learning about how people are affected by shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh, India, take a look at this video! Made by Earth Focus, the video shows the corrupt practices, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation caused by the shrimp industry. Find out how shrimp from Bangladesh, exposed to pesticides and injected with dirty water, may be toxic to your health.
Solutions: Fighting Against The Shrimp Situation
Once the mangroves are ripped out, the
cost is rendered unstable, which triggers erosion, harming coral reefs and seabed,
which destroy and limit habitats for animals. This can affect the food chain
and even life cycles of some animals.
When mangroves swamps are being wiped out, there should be the implementation of higher fees on shrimp farmers for the use of the land. It should be considered as an economic rent (Primavera 1997). Instead of allowing shrimp farmers from buying mangrove swamps from the government, it should be based on rent: the land is on a loan. When one clears the swamp for farming, it has to be returned to its original state after the usage of the land, and at the cost of the shrimp farmer. If the government collected rent, such collections can fund mangrove planting and other rehabilitation programs. By making them pay fees, there could also be a decrease in the rate of mangrove swamps being destroyed, as the individual farmers will be getting lesser investment.
When mangroves swamps are being wiped out, there should be the implementation of higher fees on shrimp farmers for the use of the land. It should be considered as an economic rent (Primavera 1997). Instead of allowing shrimp farmers from buying mangrove swamps from the government, it should be based on rent: the land is on a loan. When one clears the swamp for farming, it has to be returned to its original state after the usage of the land, and at the cost of the shrimp farmer. If the government collected rent, such collections can fund mangrove planting and other rehabilitation programs. By making them pay fees, there could also be a decrease in the rate of mangrove swamps being destroyed, as the individual farmers will be getting lesser investment.
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shrimps,
Solutions
Governor's Perspective: We are a Corrupted Shrimp Industry
Governor going against the unhappy people (Earth Focus 2012) |
Governor:
As an employee of the
local government, I support shrimp farming due to the economic and social
benefits it brings to my country. Shrimp farming is a very lucrative business
that brings many job opportunities. Shrimp farming, if regulated properly,
could help bring some areas out of poverty. It is a very profitable industry.
Also, workers who shrimp farm can expect to get paid more than the average
worker in India. A global estimate put shrimp farm worker’s salaries at 1.5-3
times the normal wages (Bangkok Post 2012).
Environmentalist's Perspective: The Ugliness of Shrimp Farming
The chemical waste that appears in farmer’s land, a
consequence from shrimp farming
Environmentalist:
While Shrimp farming
may be a highly lucrative business, as an environmentalist, I believe that it
has a negative effect on the environment. Mangrove forests are found in
silt-rich habitats worldwide, generally along large rivers and coastal areas. Low
trees, almost exclusively mangroves, with a low canopy, characterize it.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Farmer's Perspective: The Social Impact of Shrimp Farming
This picture illustrates one of the harmful effects of shrimp
aquaculture: dried farmland
Farmers:
Bangladesh is considered a third world country with its high poverty level.
Bringing in large shrimp farms into this area makes it even more challenging
for the natives, especially the farmers - us - to maintain their daily
lifestyle, as there is an increase in competition for necessities. Shrimp
aquaculture takes our away land, water and even food!
Data and Statistics: Depleting Mangroves
According to a FAO report in 2005, global mangrove coverage has fallen from 18.8 million hectares in 1980 to 15.2 million by the end of 2000, which is approximately 20% of the global mangrove area in Asian in 1980.
(ZSL 2012)
Shrimp Aquaculture 101
Learn more about Shrimp Aquaculture in our video! Stop the destruction of mangroves and help us solve the problem!
Shrimp Aquaculture: Attacking The Environment
(WWF 2011)
In modern society, we love to satisfy our
cravings by eating what we want. Food is now a main form of entertainment,
especially for Americans. Americans love seafood, especially shrimp. Whether
stir-fried, barbecued, or curried, our passion for this tender crustacean is
undeniable. In fact, farmed shrimp accounts for one-third of global
consumption (BBC 2004). This is not a model of development that we should be
proud of.
Shrimp farming is a booming industry; in only
the United States, we consume more than a billion pounds of shrimp a year (NRDC
2011). However, when done incorrectly, it is a destructive one. Shrimp
farms are not naturally made. The pollution from antibiotics, fertilizers,
disinfectants, and pesticides; the clearing of vegetation for new farms; the
introduction of salt water to soil; the unsustainable levels of bycatch; and
the introduction of new diseases that accompany shrimp farming negatively
impact the environment enormously.
Labels:
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