Degradation of Mangrove Ecosystems Due to Shrimp Farming Activities and Its Conflicts of Interest in the State of Bahia, Brazil

Thiago Awad Prudente1, Maria A. N. de Meirelles2, José Â. S. A. dos Anjos1,2, and Roberto G. dos Santos2

1. Salvador University, Salvador, Brazil

2. Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil

Abstract: Shrimp farming is the branch of aquaculture dedicated to the farming of crustaceans during all their stages of development. The marine shrimp Litopenaeusvannamei is the main species in this activity. Shrimp farming uses brackish water from mangrove ecosystems as its main resource due to its ideal quality. However, this practice causes several environmental impacts such as the deforestation of mangrove forests for implementing ponds and also legal conflicts that currently favor this type of aquaculture activity in areas with environmental restrictions. Communities that live in the surrounding areas of shrimp farms are also impacted by the activity due to the difficulty they have in accessing the mangroves where they carry out traditional and artisanal shellfish gathering.

Key words: degradation, mangrove forests, shrimp farming, public conflicts