Large-scale shrimp farming in coastal wetlands of Venezuela, South America: Causes and consequences of land-use conflicts

Abstract

/ In Venezuela, large-scale shrimp farming began in the 1980s. By 1987, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARNR) had received 14 proposals for approval. A developer illegally started the construction of ponds at the Piritu Lagoon in the State of Anzo~tegui before the authorization process was completed. This action triggered a land-use conflict. This study identifies the causes for public protest and determines the consequences of this conflict for land-use management. The results show that public protest was based on the impacts of the partial construction of ponds. These impacts were related to direct removal of wetlands, interruption of natural patterns of surface flows, and alteration of feeding grounds of some bird species with migratory status. Consequences were identified in relation to the role that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play in land-use conflicts and the actions that MARNR could take in the future to prevent and solve similar situations.

Sustainability development analysis of semi‐intensive shrimp farms in Sonora, México

“…First, in Sonora the EI obtained the highest values in the SDI and had the greatest influence on SI. The environmental sustainability of the farms in Sonora is because the shrimp farms in this state do not use wild seed or pesticides as in Thailand (Chansang et al, 1982;Flaherty and Karnjanakesorn, 1995;Jory, 1996), Taiwan (Bailey, 1988;Macintosh, 1996), the Philippines, Ecuador (Primavera, 1991(Primavera, , 1993, China (Zhong and Power, 1997) and Venezuela (Buittrago, 1989;Sebastiani et al, 1994). Contrary to the experience observed in Asia, specifically in the Philippines and Thailand (Primavera, 1991(Primavera, , 1993, where most of the mangroves areas were cleared to construct farms, shrimp farms in Sonora were constructed on brackish lands.…”

“…These adverse effects vary from wild seed capture (Primavera, 1991(Primavera, , 1993, pollution (Brown, 1989;Jaw-Kai, 1990;Anderson and de Silva, 1997), population displacement (Sebastiani et al, 1994;Sharp and Lamson, 1989), illness dispersion (Ligthner et al, 1992) and tourism (Stickney, 1988) to even a reduction in fisheries production (Sharp and Lamson, 1989 1997) by mangrove depletion (Stevenson, 1995;Macintosh, 1996) or capture to feed cultured shrimps (Edwards, 1997). In Sonora the effects on the environment, on society and on the economy are different to those stated above.…”

Can Export-Oriented Aquaculture in Developing Countries be Sustainable and Promote Sustainable Development? The Shrimp Case

“…Actually, some of the changes associated with the destruction of mangroves affect the structure and nature of property rights systems of mangroves (Table 3). The establishment of shrimp aquaculture in mangroves displaces traditional uses and users, replacing multiuse, multi-purpose resource (Lebel et al 2002), blocking the access to common property coastal resource (Pradhan and Flaherty 2008) and creating strong land conflicts (Sebastiani et al 1994). Salinization of ground and surface water and land is another problem with other important environmental consequences and a cause of conflicts with other sectors, such as rice farmers (Whitmarsh and Palmieri 2008).…”

Wetlands: conservation's poor cousins

“…In South America, many wetlands are remote, removed from agricultural and urban pressures. However, coastal areas have already been exposed to severe impacts, particularly by aquaculture (Sebastiani et al , ). There are many examples of wetland loss globally, illustrative of the pressures (Table ).…”