Brackish-water shrimp cultivation threatens permanent damage to coastal agriculture in Bangladesh.

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, brackish-water shrimp cultivation in the coastal zone of Bangladesh has contributed increasingly to the national economy, but there is a lack of quantitative data on the effects of shrimp farming at the household and community levels. This chapter investigates the impact of shrimp cultivation on the environment and farmers' livelihood in a typical subdistrict of the coastal zone in Bangladesh. The variables involved with shrimp cultivation and their impact on the land are also taken into consideration and an attempt is made to analyse the patterns of land-use change that occurred between 1975 and 1999. The extensive pattern of shrimp cultivation is achieved by expansion of area rather than by intensification. The expansion of shrimp farming has resulted in decreases in crop production and many environmental problems in the form of a shortage of livestock fodder, fuel scarcity and decreases in traditional labour forces. Under the present circumstances, shrimp cultivation is no doubt beneficial for a selected group of people, but it has negatively affected the livelihoods of landless and marginal farmers, making it difficult for them to survive in the area.

Shrimp Culture: Trend, Consequences and Sustainability in the South-western Coastal Region of Bangladesh

“…Penaeus monodon (locally known as Bagda)-the brackish water shrimp-comprises 60% of farmed shrimp production, followed by the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (locally known as Golda) which accounts for 25% (Rosenberry, 1995). More than 70% shrimp culture is favoured in greater Khulna region (Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts) because both the fresh-and saline-water resources are abundant in almost all seasons and the world's largest single tract mangrove, the Sundarbans, provides food and nursery for the offshore fisheries (Karim and Shah, 2001).…”

Robust-yet-fragile nature of partly engineered social-ecological systems: a case study of coastal Bangladesh

“…Another example is the unemployment issue caused by CSF. Because CSF is about 90% less labor intensive than agriculture (Shiva 1995, Islam et al 2002, the expansion of CSF in the SWBD caused as much as 49% drop in employment at the local level over the period of 1975 to 1999 (Karim 2006). Fig.…”

The Sustainability of Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Coastal Bangladesh: Bio-Economic Analysis of Current and Future Climate Scenarios

“…Even the number of ducks and geese in the village had also dropped significantly because of the increased salinity. The decline in the livestock population was also reported in a study by Karim (2006) as being an adverse impact of shrimp culture.…”

“…Other indigenous fruit trees (coconut and sapodilla) survived but rarely bore any fruit (Figure 7.3). Karim (2006) reported that, in a village in Bagerhat District in Khulna Division, about 60% of the trees died and some trees, aquatic plants, and weed species had completely disappeared due to shrimp culture. Farmers also reported that about 16 species of freshwater fish became scarce due to increased salinity after the introduction of shrimp farming.…”