| Author | Francisco, Lidia Sanchez San |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. EV-02-14 |
| Subject(s) | Shrimp fisheries--Environmental aspects
Shrimp industry--Environmental aspects
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Engineering. School of Environment, Resources and Development
|
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-02-14 |
| Abstract | This research deals with sustainability of present shrimp farming practices in Thailand.
Reasons for this unsustainability are presented in details. The data is obtained through
primary as well as secondary sources.
Shrimp farming is primarily a family-owned business in Thailand. The farmers have low
educational background, with family size of about 4-6. Although the farmers have some
knowledge about adverse impacts on environment such as water pollution and depletion of
fisheries due to shrimp farming, they do not employ any substantial waste management
practices. Over 90% of the respondents showed willingness for adopting production
practices that would lead to lesser environmental pollution.
Several of the present shrimp farming practices are unsustainable primarily due to nutrient
discharges, poor waste and sediment management practices and land abandonment.
Typical production rate is 1,000 - 3,000 kg/rai/crop. FCR ratios of around 1.4 - 2.5 are
commonly encountered thus can be concluded that operation practices are running in suboptimal levels due to the high amounts of feed supplied to the shrimps. The uneaten feed,
which is wasted, contributes to environmental impacts like water pollution. The survey
showed that the cost of feed accounts for about 77% of the total costs. To maintain
stisfactory water quality in the pond, water exchange is commonly practiced and daily
water exchange of about 5 - 25% is employed. Discharge into water canals or sea is
common. About 50% of respondents have preliminary wastewater treatment, while
remaining discharge the wastewater into the sea or canals without treatment. The
sediments after harvesting are usually settled in a holding pond and then disposed to the
land without appropriate treatment. Typically, the number of shrimp crops undertaken in
the given pond is about 5-8. After that the farmers leave the pond as it is and unde1iake
shrimp farming at a new site.
The Government of Thailand has set effluent standard for BOD as 10 ppm. However,
standards for nutrient discharge such as nitrogen and phosphorus are not yet in place. In
Thailand, the legal framework with penalties for non-compliance regarding license,
registration, zoning for shrimp farming, etc. does exist. The "Environment Act" in general
deals with preservation aspects of environment and serves as a guideline to minimize the
environmental impact of shrimp farming. Lack of coordination among these authorities is
often a major obstacle in satisfactory enforcement of the legal framework. Application of
economic instruments such as environmental charges, environment funds and incentives
and ecolabelling are also suggested in this research to make present shrimp farming
practices sustainable. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis; no. EV-02-14 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Annachhatre, Ajit P |
| Examination Committee(s) | Lin, C K wei ;Amin, A. T. M. Nmul ;Harremoes, Poul |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | European Union
|
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |
