Integrated mangrove-shrimp aquaculture

It is believed that silvofishery has its origins in Myanmar in the 1950s. The government developed a system that required farmers to plant trees in exchange for using land, which in turn allowed for reforestation at low operational costs. Indonesia and Vietnam are known to have used silvofishery since 1978 and this farming system has also been introduced in other Southeast Asian regions as well as in countries of South Asia and South America. == The integrated mangrove-shrimp system ==

The design In IMS systems, mangrove vegetation can be planted in three different ways: • On platforms or bunds creating rows of trees in between water canals or ditches where the shrimps are raised • On one large platform surrounded by a large area of water • In one area that is separated from the shrimp ponds by dykes These three types of design are defined as integrated, associated and separated, respectively. Other factors that can affect the production of shrimps in silvoaquaculture are the following: The area formerly occupied by mangroves can't exceed 50% of the total farm area and shrimp products can only be labeled as organic once the former mangrove area is at least 50% restored within a 5-year period. Organic shrimp farming has many advantages such as the rehabilitation of mangrove forests, the reduction of production costs and the higher market price for organic shrimps. However, the certification process for access to global markets is costly, thus can be a deterrent for farmers. == Benefits and challenges ==

IMS farming is not yet common practice; it has many advantages compared with traditional shrimp farming systems, but it is not without its roadblocks. • Sustainable livelihood: IMS cultivation provides local communities with regular income from shrimp farming (continuous harvest) as well as from timber production and other fishery products, while rehabilitating mangrove forests. • Water quality: the presence of mangrove trees can improve the water quality of shrimp ponds, which can limit disease outbreak as they have bio-filtering functions and they buffer against water temperature shock (tree shading). Challenges • Benefit sharing from timber production: farmers can be discouraged from shifting to IMS farming because the income from mangrove forest exploitation may not be as profitable for them due to unequal benefit sharing with forest companies or relevant stakeholders in the timber industry. • Ideal conditions: the design and maintenance of a mixed mangrove-shrimp environment (e.g. tree coverage, leaf litter, ditch area) to maximize shrimp yield can be challenging and discouraging if farmers don't have access to enough resources (labor and financial) or to adequate technical knowledge • Policy conflict and enforcement: contradictory policies stipulated by different levels of government or different governmental departments as well as the poor enforcement of these policies due to the lack of resources can lead to over logging or to the illegal conversion of mangrove areas to shrimp ponds. == Recommendations ==

Below are some of the main recommendations for the use of IMS cultivation as a sustainable farming practice in mangroves: • The provision of financial incentives for practicing IMS aquaculture and for the participation in the mangrove restoration plan. • The provision of financial and technical support from international institutions. • The participation of local communities in mangrove restoration and management planning. • The collaboration of key stakeholders (e.g. government, NGOs, coastal communities, international agencies) in the implementation of IMS aquaculture. == References ==