Shrimp Farming and the Environment - Library

CHAPTER 4: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF SHRIMPFARMINGThis chapter reviews the main reported negative impacts of shrimp aquaculture and considers ways toreduce or overcome such effects, as well as to spread the benefits of shrimp aquaculture more widely.Many of the social impacts follow directly from environmental impacts discussed in the previouschapter, and possible mitigation measures are therefore often the same.Although less thoroughly researched than environmental impacts, discussion and analysis of social andeconomic impacts can be found in a range of recent publications (Bailey 1988; Bailey 1992; Bailey &Skladany 1991; Primavera 1994; Funge-Smith & Stewart 1996; Clay 1996; Asian Institute ofTechnology 1996; Adger, Kelly, Ninh & Thanh 1998; Gilbert & Janssen 1997; Holland 1998). Many ofthese articles, and others in publications read more by the general public, have focused on negativeimpacts. Only the studies by Clay (1996) and Kelly, Ninh & Thanh (1998) have attempted to presentthe overall balance of costs and benefits to specific areas or communities. More balanced and thoroughassessments in a range of different circumstances are required if the true picture is to emerge.Shrimp aquaculture is undertaken in coastal areas that are used for a variety of other activities, such asfishing, hunting, agriculture, salt making, and wood and charcoal production. The impacts of shrimpfarming are therefore felt not only by those who are directly involved in it but also by others who liveand work in the area. Several social, economic, and secondary environmental impacts are associatedwith shrimp farm development and deserve consideration (see Table 7).Negative social and economic impacts may include:• Impacts on fisheries;• Competition for resource rights and equity issues;• Impact on agricultural production;• Employment;• Redistribution of wealth;• Displacement of local populations;• Human rights violations;• Social disturbances;• Corruption; and• Public income expenditures.Shrimp aquaculture is becoming big business in some countries, with large corporations involved in theinvestment in, development of, and operations of the shrimp farms. In such circumstances a relativelysmall part of the benefits of shrimp farming are shared by the local population, while a number ofproblems arising from shrimp farming may affect them. Those who are directly involved as employeesof large corporations may be said to benefit directly from the venture, and others may also benefitindirectly through trade, secondary employment, and the growth of associated service industries.However, others may be negatively affected by the degradation of the environment, the erosion ofcommon resource rights, and the like.In large parts of Thailand and Vietnam, on the other hand, shrimp farming is dominated by small-scalefamily enterprises (Lin 1995; Hambrey & Lin 1996), and there is no obvious trend toward larger-scaleenterprises yet. With small-scale farms, a more significant proportion of benefits accrue to localcommunities (Asian Institute of Technology 1996) so long as farming can be sustained over areasonable period. Much more research is required in different parts of the world to document andassess the distribution of positive and negative social and economic impacts of shrimp farming.39