Environmental and socio-economic impacts of shrimp culture in southwestern Bangladesh

Abstract

Shrimp culture in the coastal belt of Bangladesh is pre dominantly dependent on the collection of Penaeus monodon fry from the wild. Horizontal expansion of shrimp farming has resulted in a decline of this resource alarmingly in the coastal rivers. About 26-119 other shrimps, 9-13 finfish larvae and 64-922 macro-zooplankton are being destroyed during the collection of a single P. monodon fry, causing loss of aquatic biodiversity in the coastal environment. It is evident that shrimp culture does not significantly influence the short-term rice cultivation. Grave socio-economic impacts, including conversion of agricultural land, salinization of water and soil, marginalization of coastal communities and social conflicts have been observed in the wake of shrimp culture development in Bangladesh.