Beware of the environmental and economic risks of brackish shrimp cultivation

Jun 09, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – The government’s brackish water shrimp project has faced criticism from Mr. Tony Vieira. The allegations include damage to sea defence dams and protective mangroves, alleged overstatement of production, and increased salinity of the ponds and surrounding lands, rendering them unfit for other uses.

The Ministry of Agriculture has not adequately addressed these concerns in its response. The Ministry instead claims that production figures are actually understated and insists there are no negative environmental impacts from the current system. However, the Ministry has not addressed the reported damage to earthen sea dams or mangroves due to the sourcing of saltwater for the farms. Additionally, it has not acknowledged issue of insufficient knowledge, about brackish water shrimp cultivation, among agricultural authorities in East Berbice, nor has it commented on the claim that increased land salinity from these ponds makes the land unusable for other purposes afterwards.

The Ministry of Agriculture ought to have known that brackish shrimp cultivation has potential environmental risks. Similar initiatives in other parts of the world have been associated with destruction of coastal ecosystems and the degradation of receiving water bodies canals. Brackish shrimp cultivation has also led to an increase in soil and ground water salinity.

The Ministry of Agriculture has an obligation to address the concerns expressed by Mr. Vieira concerning the brackish water shrimp cultivation project. The public is not going to be appeased by the Ministry’s own assessment of its own project.

One effective measure would be to invite the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment. This assessment would evaluate the potential damage to the lands caused by the shrimp farming activities, providing an unbiased and comprehensive understanding of the environmental implications. By doing so, the Ministry will be demonstrating its commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and the well-being of the affected communities.

The Ministry of Public Works should assess the integrity of sea dams and mangrove forests in the vicinity of the shrimp ponds. It should do so to determine whether these structures have sustained any damage due to the saltwater sourcing required for the shrimp farms. Ensuring the structural integrity of these natural defences is vital to protect the surrounding population from potential sea water incursion and coastal erosion

I have my own concerns about this project, which I have mentioned before. First, despite the contention by the Ministry of Agriculture that this project has been a major success and has resulted in increased production of shrimp, the price of this commodity in the market has not been reduced much.

While the price mechanism in our markets follow their own laws, it is known that when swamp shrimp is in ‘season’ the price dips appreciably. However, even with the declared massive increase in output, the price of this shrimp remains extremely high and out of the reach of the poor.

As such we have a billion-dollar industry in Guyana producing an item than is unaffordable to the poor. Priority needs to be given to satisfying local consumption needs over that of export markets.

The production numbers therefore need to be interrogated. In the first 11 months of last year, the government claimed that brackish water shrimp earned some G$1.3 billion dollars. But to whom did this money go: the rich or the poor?

The government is projecting a 15- fold increase in brackish water shrimp. But who benefits from this production? Which economic class is reaping the investment that government is handsomely supporting?

The Ministry should clarify who has benefited from the government’s support for this capital-intensive project. It is important to know if the benefits have primarily gone to rich farmers, which would undermine the potential for this initiative to serve as a tool for poverty reduction.

Ideally, such a project should be designed to provide increased opportunities for youth and women, positioning it as a significant poverty alleviation effort. If the project is instead enriching the already affluent, it raises serious concerns about its equitable distribution and the socio-economic approach behind this initiative.

As a major agricultural endeavour, this shrimp farming project could have been an avenue for diversification for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO). Utilizing non-cane lands, GUYSUCO has the capacity and resources to engage in large-scale shrimp farming and other aquaculture activities. This diversification could offer substantial remunerative employment opportunities for hundreds of workers, contributing significantly to the economic development and stability of the agricultural sector. By leveraging GUYSUCO’s infrastructure and workforce, the project could achieve a broader impact, fostering inclusive growth and supporting the livelihoods of many within the community.

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• Berbice, cultivation, Economic, impacts, Shrimp

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