Shrimp farming – an ecological and social disaster

See the film "Murky waters" at: http://coddeffagolf.org/multimedia/42-videos/128-acuacultura-del-camaron-un-desatre-socio-ecologico-video

LA PELICULA TRATA SOBRE LOS IMPACTOS DE LA ACUACULTURA EN BANGLADESH. LAMENTABLEMENTE NO ESTA EN ESPAÑOL, HE AQUÍ UN RESUMEN

“ In a new film and report, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) today reveals the extent of the destruction caused by the shrimp farming industry. Our increased consumption of tropical shrimp, also called prawns and sometimes scampi, can be traced to coastal regions in the tropic where ecosystem where the ecosystems have been devastated and people are living in miserable conditions, their human rights repeatedly violated.  When an increased number of people choose tropical prawns in their curry, on their sushi or in their stir fry, it is causing increased environmental degradation and human suffering in producer countries, like Bangladesh.

Despite visiting shrimp farms in Asia, Africa and Latin America, I was moved by these new results. Shrimp farming is an ecological and social disaster. In the end it is the Europeans and consumers in other rich countries that fuel the devastation. In a way, that gives me some hope.  Awareness amongst consumers could potentially halt the ongoing destruction and create change, says Mikael Karlsson, President of SSNC.

The Swedish import of tropical prawns has increased by 600 % in the last 10 years. Shrimp production of takes place in ponds where mangroves or farmland has been cleared. These ecosystems typically contribute to food security for hundreds of thousands of people in coastal Bangladesh. Due to the alteration of the landscape, the region has become increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change. In addition it appears that chemicals are used that do not only destroy the environment but are also poisonous. It is chocking how these people have had their land stolen from them and when they protest they are subject to violence.

Rafiza who lives in the village of Roskok in Bangladesh was raped by an employee at a shrimp farm and after she went to the police her family is living under constant threat of reprisals from the local shrimp farmers.

Before I could go to the police these people went to the police before me. They had filed a case against me, my parents and another uncle of mine. They kept pressurising my father and brother. They told us that “you people are like flies and we can just blow you people away anytime. We will kill you and cut your body in pieces and throw your body into the river. Just drop the case.” They are still threatening us.

• Shrimp for which there is no demand will not be farmed. Where no shrimp are farmed, mangrove ecosystems and paddy field can remain, supporting communities with their goods and services. Abstaining from the prawn on the sushi plate contributes to preserving biodiversity and strengthening the rights of communities to livelihoods and decent lives, says Kajsa Garpe, policy officer for Tropical Marine Ecosystems and Fisheries at SSNC

Shrimp are found in many of food stores and restaurants around Europe. There is only way to stop the unsustainable production. Say no to tropical shrimp! It is, after all, an easy way of taking responsibility for the environment and people in other parts of the world, says Mikael Karlsson.”

Un análisis desde la justicia ambiental

En los últimos años, se ha incrementado notablemente la producción camaronera

en el Golfo de Fonseca (costa pacífica centroamericana que incluye zonas de Honduras, Nicaragua y El Salvador). Esta expansión ha ocasionado numerosos impactos ecológicos, entre los cuales destacan la desaparición de amplias extensiones de bosques de manglar, diversas afectaciones al sistema de drenaje de varios humedales, desvío de canales y desecación de lagunas naturales.

Si bien estos impactos han sido ampliamente documentados, las implicaciones sociales, incluyendo los crecientes conflictos armados vinculados a la extensión de la industria acuícola, hasta el momento no han sido tan estudiadas. El presente informe trata de completar este vacío aportando un análisis desde la justicia ambiental de las principales problemáticas detectadas, así como un conjunto de medidas que permitan afrontarlas.

La producción de camarón en el Golfo de Fonseca ha experimentado un rápido crecimiento en las últimas décadas, pasando de ser una actividad casi inexistente en los inicios de los años 80 del pasado siglo a superar las 40.000 toneladas anuales de producción en el año 2008. El área de principal actividad se localiza en los departamentos de Choluteca y El Valle (Honduras), y el departamento de Chinandega (Nicaragua), zonas que son, a su vez, de las más pobres de ambos países.

Agradecimientos

Los autores quieren expresar su agradecimiento a todas las personas entrevistadas y, muy especialmente, a los miembros del Movimiento Social Nicaragüense-Otro Mundo es Posible y de CODDEFFAGOLF. Gracias a Luis, Jorge, Carlos, Óscar y su familia, Carmen, Hilario, Rosa Amanda y Dolores por todo su apoyo.

La investigación en la que se basa esta publicación ha contado con el apoyo del proyecto «Anàlisi i propostes d’actuació per a la resolució de conflictes socio-ambientals pesquers a Centreamèrica», financiado por el Institut Català Internacional per la Pau, y del proyecto europeo «Environmental Governance in Latin America and the Caribbean 2011-2014» del Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Ambientales ICTA, UAB.

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