Mangrove-friendly Shrimp Culture: a Project of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Fisheries Consultative Group
By Rolando R. Platon, SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tigbauaun, Iloilo 5021, Philippines.

Abstract

Shrimp farming is a major dollar earner for the countries in Southeast Asia. However, recent events in the form of disease outbreaks and production failures have made it increasingly clear that its sustainability depends on a high regard for the environment - both within and outside the growing area. Interest is therefore high within the Southeast Asian region for the countries to collaborate with each other and find ways to make shrimp farming benign to the environment not least of which is the mangrove ecosystem.

The project involves development of mangrove friendly shrimp culture technologies, including a zero-discharge system where wastewater is treated using biological agents such as seaweeds, molluscs and fishes or even the mangroves itself and returned to the growing ponds. Trial runs are in progress in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Research studies on nutrient cycles and capacity of mangroves to process pond effluents are conducted to provide scientific basis for understanding and improvement of techniques. While present state technologies are documented in manuals, these will be refined through verification runs in various countries and the end-of-project manuals will be translated into different languages of ASEAN. Other information activities include video production on the technologies and the maintenance of a mangrove website. On-site training courses comprising lecture and practicum facilitates skills development for participants from member countries.

With financial assistance from the Government of Japan SEAFDEC AQD serves as coordinator for technology development and Thailand acts as the coordinating country for promoting the technology within the ASEAN countries.