20 December 2008

Posted by T. Brook Smith

Belizean shrimp producers are world-wide leaders in sustainable shrimp aquaculture in developing nations, but specific problems remain within the industry. http://www.worldwildlife.org/cci/aquaculture_projects2.cfm

Research conducted by Brooksmith Consulting on behalf of the World Wildlife Fund during 2008 shows that Belizean shrimp aquaculture waste effluent generally fails to meet national waste water standards (T. Smith, Belizean Shrimp Aquaculture: 2008 Status and Review, World Wildlife Fund). Shrimp aquaculture operations have been associated with negative impacts on seagrass and water quality, especially in coastal lagoons. Environmental impacts associated with Belizean shrimp aquaculture include coastal eutrophication, erosion and attending threats to tidal creeks and lagoons. Coastal lagoons have experienced sedimentation, heavy nutrient loading and loss of seagrass. Healthy Reefs has recently reported that the health of the Mesoamerican Reef is low, with 59% rated in poor condition or lower. The most significant effects of shrimp farming on the Belizean Mesoamerican Reef probably occur indirectly through eutrophication of estuarine nursery habitat. Effective means are needed to reduce pollution from shrimp farming, not only in Belize but around the globe. http://healthyreefs.org/Report_Card/Report_2008/Report_2008index.html

Affecting the global environment and the international shrimp ecocertification movement
A global effort by the FAO, UNEP, NACA, the World Bank and WWF is now underway to create ecocertification criteria, indicators, and standards for the culture of P. vannamei. Part of that dialog occurred in Central America and Mexico during 2008. Ecocertification of Belizean shrimp farmers represents a chance to augment an over-burdened national regulatory system and realize significant improvement in the quality of critical coastal habitats. Ecocertification uses global market forces to subsidize environmental protections by providing premium prices and markets to shrimp that meet specific criteria for environmental sustainability. Ecocertification costs are paid by the producer and represent no cost to local governments. In contrast, local enforcement of water quality regulations in Belize and in many developing nations has been lax, primarily because of funding and logistical constraints (Smith 2008).

The result of the ecocertification project in Belize has been particularly successful. Settlement pond construction and mangrove planting have already begun in direct response to ecocertification incentives. These efforts affect approximately 77% of overall shrimp production and 92% of shrimp produced in Placencia Lagoon. Verification projects for local mitigations have been approved by the World Wildlife Fund for 2009. Local NGOs have participated in discussions about shrimp aquaculture and monitoring, and local activists have expressed optimism about the long term trajectory of the environmental sustainability of shrimp farming in Belize (Smith, 2008). The Belize Shrimp Grower’s Association has recently endorsed the environmental work of local NGOs and considers them working partners.

Unfortunately, the Belizean model has not been embraced by the International Shrimp Dialogues. As yet, no data from critical habitats affected by farms has been included among the accepted criteria for shrimp farm ecocertification. No mechanisms for feedback from independent local scientists or communities affected by shrimp farming has been allowed into the criteria. As a direct result of these exclusions, global environmental groups such as the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) have spoken out repeatedly against the ecocertification movement (MAP News 226th edition). Shrimp aquaculture from developing nations continues to be listed as one of the least sustainable food sources in the world. http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=15892

The Belizean experience suggests that local participation in ecocertification is possible, necessary and attainable, and that significant and measurable improvements in environmental quality can be accomplished in this manner. Yet the International Shrimp Dialogues considers incorporation of the specific environmental concerns and data from coastal communities beyond reach. It is this exclusion of ecological data that has resulted in the rejection of the shrimp ecocertification by key environmental groups and green-oriented buyers. As yet no increased market value exists for eco-certified shrimp. The lack of an economic incentive limits the ability and interest of shrimp producers to invest in green technologies and effectively short-circuits the potential benefits of the entire shrimp ecocertification movement.

Technical Details
This project seeks to address specific environmental problems on Belizean shrimp farms by developing cost-effective means to improve effluent water quality. This project will accomplish this goal by recycling nutrients from pond waste effluent back into feed for juvenile shrimp. The shrimp species P. vannamei is an omnivorous grazers and facultative filter feeder that readily consumes biofilms, bacteria and algae. Farms increase shrimp growth by adding commercial feeds to ponds. Waste nutrients from feeds exit ponds and enter effluent canals during rain events and pond drainings. By recycling waste nutrients from effluent canals back into production in the form of consumable biomass, project outputs will contribute to the economic sustainability of shrimp farms and improve likelihood of technology adoption.

Substrates used for peiphyton growth will include Aqua Mats (a commercially produced substrate for shrimp farms), arrays of PVC pipes, and oyster culture strings. Local shrimp producers have donated the use of 100,000 Aqua Mats. Boats will be provided by the Southern Environmental Association, a Belizean Environmental NGO. A verification project from the World Wildlife Fund will set up a continuous water quality monitoring station to monitor the efficacy of this and other mitigation projects. Monitors will be linked to an international server in Peru for display of real time data. Urbana University High School Inventor’s Club in the US and Independence High School Environmental Biology class in Belize will monitor and participate in project implementation and design. Results will also be transmitted to the International Dialogue on Responsible Shrimp Aquaculture as an example of community-based monitoring, cooperation and mitigation of measureable environmental effects of shrimp farming. Project data will be suitable for peer review and publication.

Source:  Inventor's Club Belize Project 2009