Bangladesh's Shrimp Industry and Sustainable Development: Resource-Use Conflict and the Environment

Abstract

Shrimp culture plays a central part in the fisheries sub-sector in Bangladesh. Cultivation of shrimps experienced a spectacular boost over a period of a decade. This led to a significant change in the structure and composition of Bangladesh's export trade. Through a network of backward and forward linkages, shrimp culture has created substantial employment on shrimp farms as well as an increase in ancillary activities such as trade/commerce, processing and marketing. However, the employment and export gains have been achieved at considerable costs. The present paper identifies these costs using a blend of primary and secondary data. The process of shrimp cultivation epitomises conflicting resource-use patterns. Extensive shrimp-farming systems require more land than intensive ones. Given the extreme scarcity of arable land in Bangladesh, this threatens Bangladesh's ability to expand and sustain rice supply as well as salt production. Increased salinity and soil acidification as a result of shrimp culture are believed to have led to decreased rice yields. Furthermore, declining shrimp yields due to continuous use of the same land and use of chemicals are impediments to sustainable land-use in the shrimp belt with potentially serious implications on the sustainability of rural communities and their livelihoods. The adverse effects of shrimp culture on capture fisheries must also be taken into account.