Places, Chains, and Plates: Governing Transitions in the Shrimp Aquaculture Production-Consumption System

Abstract

The shrimp production-consumption system is governed by a diverse and dynamic array of actors each drawing on institutions at various levels, from local through national to international. But, for the most part, the politics of consumption (plates), chains, and places are disconnected. Instead, shrimp producers face a myriad of institutional and consumer demands and the sustainability of the shrimp aquaculture production-consumption system is not merely a technical problem to be solved by better site selection and management of ponds. Instead, campaigns for, and against, consuming certain kinds of shrimp are launched in remote corners of the globe and standards, codes, and quality assurance schemes are developed and promoted by equally diverse set of actors, to guide and regulate practices of shrimp farmers and food processors. Furthermore, most initiatives take place with little or no consultation with shrimp farmers or the communities living in shrimp growing areas. Efforts to improve sustainability will require much greater attention to ways different stakeholders, in particular, shrimp farmers and affected communities in growing areas, are brought together with other actors, to deliberate and assess impacts, and to negotiate fairer distribution of risks and benefits in a sustainable production-consumption system. Associations based in producer locales and emerging platforms that bridge these arenas would be a good place to start.El sistema de producción-consumo del camarón se rige bajo un orden variado y dinámico de actores con base en instituciones de varios niveles, que van desde el local hasta el nacional y el internacional. Pero en su mayoría, las políticas de consumo (platos), cadenas y lugares están desconectadas. En cambio, los productores de camarón, se enfrentan a un sinnúmero de exigencias institucionales y del consumidor y la sostenibilidad del sistema de producción-consumo de la acuicultura del camarón no es sólo un problema técnico que se pueda solucionar con la selección de un mejor lugar y el manejo de los estanques. En cambio, se han lanzado campañas publicitarias en pro y en contra del consumo de ciertos tipos de camarón en áreas remotas del globo y las normas, códigos y los esquemas de controles de calidad se han desarrollado y promovido por un número igualmente diverso de actores, para dirigir y regular las prácticas de los cultivadores de camarón y procesadores de alimento. Además, la mayoría de las iniciativas se establecen con muy poca o sin consulta a los cultivadores de camarón o a las comunidades que residen en áreas de crecimiento de camarón. Los esfuerzos para mejorar la sostenibilidad requerirán mucha más atención a la manera como se reúnen a los diferentes participantes y en particular a los cultivadores de camarón, y comunidades afectadas dentro de las áreas de cultivos con otros actores para deliberar y evaluar los impactos y para negociar una distribución más justa de riesgos y beneficios en un sistema sostenible de producción-consumo. Un buen punto para empezar serían las asoc...

Making social sense of aquaculture transitions

“…Although the main focus has been primarily in a European context, the approach is now being applied in other regions, contexts, and sectors (e.g., Berkhout et al 2009, Rock et al 2009), including aquaculture (Lebel et al 2010, Bush andBelton 2011). Indeed aquaculture is highly amenable to analysis in a multilevel framework because the dynamic growth of the industry has meant that innovation has been a central component of expansion (Lebel et al 2008). Therefore, transition theory provides rich territory for understanding what kinds of governance arrangements can foster sustainability innovation, either in an entire sector or at the farm level, and how these innovations can emerge as new production regimes.…”

Knowledge and innovation relationships in the shrimp industry in Thailand and Mexico

“…(9). The reasons for the switch are complex but include easier disease management, faster and less variable growth, higher possible stocking densities, and lower overall food costs for white versus black shrimp.…”

“…Secondary drivers are criticism of unsustainable practices and socio-ecological impacts of shrimp farming (1,9,11,19).…”

“…The discovery of drug residues in exports from Thailand led to shrimp import bans as part of more stringent quality-control policies in Europe and elsewhere. Eventually, farmers were required to adhere to good agricultural practice guidelines and have aquatic animal movement documents (9,20). In Mexico, new standards were introduced as emergency norms on the use of antibiotics in disease management with information about human and ecosystem health.…”

“…Addressing these challenges often appears to require simply a good understanding of aquatic ecosystems and shrimp biology, aquaculture management techniques, incentives, and institutions (8,9). However, practical experience, formal training, and basic research all may contribute to innovation and expansion of shrimp aquaculture.…”