Shrimp Farming and the Environment - Library

PREFACEThere has been much controversy in recent years about the sustainability of shrimp farming. This study wastherefore commissioned to analyze and discuss these issues objectively, with a goal of developing somepreliminary guidance for the World Bank and other multilateral and bilateral agencies in addressing issuesand opportunities related to the development of shrimp farming.The present study, constituting Phase I of a larger study, identifies problem areas, good practices, andminimal requirements for environmentally safe and sustainable shrimp farming. Proposed activities forPhase II, some of them now under way, are presented in Chapter 8. Case studies undertaken by theconsortium (World Bank, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia, World Wildlife Fund, and Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations) are presented in Annex 4. Discussion of the approach anddissemination of the results have been presented to a number of different stakeholders, as presented inAnnex 5.This report is intended primarily as a discussion paper, to serve as the basis for informed dialogue andpolicy development to encourage more detailed guidelines following further study and consultation. Itseeks, in particular, to answer three commonly posed questions: Is sustainable shrimp farming possible?Can poor coastal communities benefit from it? And, if so, what role can agencies like the World Bank playto ensure that basic minimal requirements to achieve this are met?This document was originally prepared for the World Bank by KPMG Center for Aquaculture and Fisheries(by Erik Hempel and Ulf Winther) and subsequently revised by John Hambrey (of the Asian Institute ofTechnology and Econeco), in close collaboration with the World Bank.x