Can Mangroves and Shrimp Farming Coexist Sustainably?

A recent article by the World Economic Forum, "Mangroves and shrimp: a litmus test for food system transformation", highlights how Ecuador and Thailand are proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

Through partnerships, data-driven solutions, and pioneering efforts like blockchain traceability, Ecuadorian shrimp producers are leading the way in delinking shrimp farming from environmental harm.

• Mangroves are vital ecosystems that absorb carbon, protect coastal communities, and support biodiversity and livelihoods worldwide.
• Yet, for decades, the food system has led to mangrove conversion across the globe, with shrimp farming often in the spotlight.?
• Two major shrimp exporters – Ecuador and Thailand – are proving it’s possible to delink shrimp supply from mangrove conversion, showing the way for other commodities and regions.

1. Ecuador is home to the largest mangrove forests in the Western hemisphere.
2. Ecuador is the first country to commit to conversion free aquaculture.
3. The Ecuadorian shrimp industry has pushed government to extend farming prohibition to mangrove forests.
4. The only way to expand or build a farm in Ecuador is to grow in areas not near mangrove forests.
5. To protect these ecosystems, WWF , Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) , the Cámara Nacional de Acuacultura , and Clark University have mapped Ecuador's mangrove conversion within a 10 km coastal zone from 1999 to 2022. This project aims to maintain an up-to-date timeline to evaluate that the conversion free policy is being properly followed.

For more insights on these efforts, read World Economic Forum 's article, "Mangroves and shrimp: a litmus test for food system transformation.

#Sustainability #Shrimp #Aquaculture #Ecuador #Thailand #Mangroves