Chinese Exploitation Of Shrimp Farming And Open Access Resou

Chinese Exploitation Of Shrimp Farmingopen Access Resources By Jeff

Chinese Exploitation of Shrimp Farming Open Access Resources by: Jeff Hunt Outline â— Details about Shrimp Farming â— Benefits â— Shrimp Stock â— Social Costs â— Externalities â— Solutions â— Conclusion Shrimp Farming - explained â— Demand from Shrimp increasingly popular â— Chinese development of its seacoast â—‹ 1.3 million hectares â— Technology developed in 1978 â— Processed feed â— Mechanicalization â— From China accounted for 35% of the world’s shrimp â— At the same time, Taiwan’s production collapsed due to disease â— Wild-caught shrimp â— Cultured shrimp â— Caught as larvae and farmed to maturity â— Unethical practices Benefits â— Export for shrimp in North America, Europe and Japan â— A quickly growing industry â— Low barriers of entry â— Excellent for local groups â— Lack of research and development Destruction of the Shrimp stock â— Fish for the shrimp larvae in excess â— Does no allow the shrimp itself to grow in its natural environment â— Loss of nutrients because of the processed feed â— Shrimp that get out of aquaculture ponds weaken the shrimp stock for wild caught shrimp Social Costs to the environment â— Pollution to the habitats in China alone â— 4 billion tons industrial waste â— 200,000 tons of untreated sewage â— The destruction of mangroves â— No ability to filter out shrimp waste, extra feed, pesticides â— Chemical additives into farms, and low quality feed â— 10% due to shrimp farming â— Large operations able to avoid mangroves â— Compared to the low budgeted, small businesses Externalities â— Most dangerous externality - the carbon into the ocean due to sediment from shrimp ponds â— Varying pH levels â— Prevents the mangroves in the outlet creeks from being suitable environments for other wildlife â— Higher amounts of dissolved oxygen in the outlet creek Solutions and Current Legislation â— Local Solution of minimizing the ability of small groups to enter the market â— Sustainable examples â— A demand for sustainably farmed shrimp will come from large buyers â— Complying with the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) â— Field testing in the future â— By both the sellers and the buyers â— Holland has committed to purchasing 100% certified shrimp Conclusions --- References Abdullah, A. et al. (2017) ‘The impact of the expansion of shrimp aquaculture on livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh’, Environment, Development & Sustainability, 19(5), pp. 2093–2114. Biao, X., Zhuhong, D. and Xiaorong, W. (2004) ‘Impact of the intensive shrimp farming on the water quality of the adjacent coastal creeks from Eastern China’, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48, pp. 543–553. Biao, X. and Kaijin, Y. (2007) ‘Shrimp farming in China: Operating characteristics, environmental impact and perspectives’, Ocean and Coastal Management, 50, pp. 538–550. Boone Kauffman, J. et al. (2017) ‘The jumbo carbon footprint of a shrimp: carbon losses from mangrove deforestation’, Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment, 15(4), pp. 183–188. Boyd, C., Clay, J. (1998) ‘Shrimp Aquaculture and the Environment’, Scientific American, 278, pp. 58-65. Cao, L., Diana, J., Keoleian, G. and Lai, Q. (2011) ‘Life Cycle Assessment of Chinese Shrimp Farming Systems Targeted for Export and Domestic Sales’, Environmental Science & Technology, 45(15), pp. 6531–6538. Costa, B. et al. (2013) ‘Mercury Distribution in a Mangrove Tidal Creek Affected by Intensive Shrimp Farming’, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology, 90(5), pp. 537–541. Ge, H. et al. (2018) ‘Integration of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and green seaweed (Ulva prolifera) in minimum-water exchange aquaculture system’, Journal of Applied Phycology, (Preprints), pp. 1–8. Xuliang Zhang et al. (2006) ‘Changes Of Hydrological Environment And Their Influences On Coastal Wetlands In The Southern Laizhou Bay, China’, Environmental Monitoring & Assessment, 119(1–3), pp. 97–106. Ya-Yan Liu et al. (2010) ‘Valuation of shrimp ecosystem services - a case study in Leizhou City, China’, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 17(3), pp. 217–224.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid expansion of shrimp farming, particularly in China, has profound ecological, economic, and social implications. As the second largest traded fish stock globally, shrimp represents a lucrative commodity for developing nations. China's extensive shrimp aquaculture industry, covering approximately 1.3 million hectares, exemplifies both the potential benefits and significant costs associated with this practice. While lucrative for export markets in North America, Europe, and Japan, the environmental toll and sustainability issues pose serious challenges.

Introduction

Shrimp farming has surged over the past few decades due to increased consumer demand, technological advances, and economic incentives. China has emerged as a global leader, contributing approximately 35% of the world's shrimp production (Biao et al., 2007). The industry’s rapid growth has been driven by innovations such as the development of processed feed and mechanized farming techniques, which commenced in the late 1970s (Cao et al., 2011). Despite its economic benefits, the expansion of this industry has raised critical concerns regarding environmental degradation, depletion of natural shrimp stocks, and social costs, especially when compounded by unethical practices.

The Ecological Impact of Shrimp Farming

One of the primary environmental impacts of shrimp aquaculture is the destruction of vital coastal ecosystems, especially mangroves. These ecosystems act as natural filters, protecting coastal areas from erosion and serving as nurseries for numerous marine species. Extensive shrimp farms often replace mangrove forests, leading to habitat loss, decreased biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters (Kauffman et al., 2017). Additionally, the practice involves catching larvae from the wild, which further diminishes natural shrimp populations (Biao & Kaijin, 2007).

Pollution and Externalities

The environmental footprint of shrimp farming extends beyond habitat destruction. In China alone, industrial waste reaches around four billion tons annually, including significant quantities of untreated sewage (Zhang et al., 2006). This pollution contaminates coastal waters, damages water quality, and causes eutrophication. The accumulation of chemical additives, pesticides, and low-quality feed in ponds leads to nutrient overload and toxicity, adversely affecting aquatic life (Boyd & Clay, 1998). Sediments from shrimp ponds introduce dangerous carbon-rich materials into the open seas, disrupting the chemical balance and affecting other marine ecosystems (Boone et al., 2017).

Externalities and Broader Impacts

The external costs of shrimp aquaculture include increased greenhouse gases due to sediment disturbance, which contributes to global climate change. The sediment’s varying pH levels inhibit the growth of mangroves along outlet creeks, reducing their capacity to sustain marine fauna (Ge et al., 2018). Moreover, the release of nutrients and pollutants into adjacent waterways creates hypoxic zones, which are detrimental to marine biodiversity. These externalities signify that the true cost of shrimp farming is often underreported, leading to calls for more sustainable practices.

Current Solutions and Legislation

Addressing the ecological and social consequences requires robust regulation and sustainable practices. Some measures include limiting small-scale entry into the industry, promoting certification programs such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and implementing field testing to ensure compliance (Cao et al., 2011). Large buyers—such as Holland—have committed to purchasing only certified sustainable shrimp, encouraging farmers to adopt environmentally friendly methods (Ya-Yan Liu et al., 2010). Sustainable aquaculture emphasizes integrated systems, reduced chemical use, and habitat conservation, ensuring the long-term viability of shrimp production (Ge et al., 2018).

Conclusion

The Chinese shrimp farming industry exemplifies a classic case of balancing economic gains with ecological costs. While it provides significant income and export revenue, the environmental degradation, habitat destruction, and potential health risks associated with antibiotic use raise concerns about its sustainability. Embracing practices such as certification, habitat conservation, and sustainable feed management is vital. Moving forward, a collective effort involving regulators, consumers, and industry stakeholders is necessary to mitigate adverse impacts and promote responsible shrimp aquaculture, ultimately safeguarding both ecosystems and human health.

References

• Abdullah, A., et al. (2017). The impact of the expansion of shrimp aquaculture on livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh. Environment, Development & Sustainability, 19(5), 2093-2114.
• Biao, X., Zhuhong, D., & Xiaorong, W. (2004). Impact of the intensive shrimp farming on the water quality of the adjacent coastal creeks from Eastern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48, 543-553.
• Biao, X., & Kaijin, Y. (2007). Shrimp farming in China: Operating characteristics, environmental impact and perspectives. Ocean and Coastal Management, 50, 538-550.
• Kauffman, J., Boone, K., & others (2017). The jumbo carbon footprint of a shrimp: carbon losses from mangrove deforestation. Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment, 15(4), 183-188.
• Boyd, C., & Clay, J. (1998). Shrimp Aquaculture and the Environment. Scientific American, 278, 58-65.
• Cao, L., Diana, J., Keoleian, G., & Lai, Q. (2011). Life Cycle Assessment of Chinese Shrimp Farming Systems Targeted for Export and Domestic Sales. Environmental Science & Technology, 45(15), 6531–6538.
• Costa, B., et al. (2013). Mercury distribution in a mangrove tidal creek affected by intensive shrimp farming. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology, 90(5), 537-541.
• Ge, H., et al. (2018). Integration of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and green seaweed (Ulva prolifera) in minimum-water exchange aquaculture system. Journal of Applied Phycology, (Preprints), 1-8.
• Xuliang Zhang, et al. (2006). Changes of hydrological environment and their influences on coastal wetlands in the southern Laizhou Bay, China. Environmental Monitoring & Assessment, 119(1-3), 97-106.
• Ya-Yan Liu, et al. (2010). Valuation of shrimp ecosystem services - a case study in Leizhou City, China. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 17(3), 217-224.