Diversified resource uses of abandoned shrimp ponds : a case study in the upper Gulf of Thailand | |
| Author | Hossain, Md. Zakir |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AQ-01-29 |
| Subject(s) | Shrimp fisheries--Thailand Ponds--Thailand |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-01-29 |
| Abstract | Thailand, the world largest shrimp producer saw its production decreasing by about 22.4 percent from a peak of 277,000 MT in 1994 to around 215,000 MT in 1997 due, inter alia, to a spread of disease and environmental degradation. As a result, the boom and bust of this unsustainable but highly profitable venture has left a large number of abandoned shrimp ponds. In Samut Sakhon Province of Upper Gulf of Thailand where, in 1985, the first intensive shrimp farming operation started, a total of 1,664 shrimp farms were already left abandoned in 1995 out of 2,269 farms operating in 1989 (53.81%). Since then, abandoned shrimp ponds became a major coastal zone management issue and a big challenge for the Thai government. Basically there are three rehabilitation options for abandoned shrimp ponds: rehabilitation into sustainable shrimp farming, rehabilitation into alternative sustainable use and rehabilitation into productive wetlands. In response these options, Thai government has been trying to provide monetary incentives (USD 416 per hectare) since 1996 to the landowners disposed to replant mangrove in their abandoned shrimp ponds as the most appropriate way to address the problem. Furthermore, most landowners converted their empty ponds back to low-profit activities such as extensive shrimp farm and salt production while few of them have implemented an integrated mollusc-shrimp-fish farm model. However, no study has yet been conducted to assess the comparative uses of abandoned shrimp ponds. Therefore the objectives of this study were to describe and make some recommendations for the rehabilitation and management of abandoned shrimp ponds, taking environmental and economic issues into consideration. The study has been carried out using direct observation, key informant semi-structured interviews, measurement and analysis of environmental (water and sediment quality), biotic (meiofauna abundance and distribution) parameters and cost-benefit analysis. The results show that, the environmental conditions of the integrated mollusc-shrimp-fish farm as similar to the replanted mangrove but differs from salt farm in terms of water quality and sediment parameters. Analysis of identified meiofauna taxa from these three systems show that the abundance in each system was significantly different from one another. The dissimilarity percentage of abundance of meiofauna was higher between salt farm and integrated mollusc-shrimp-fish farm than the latter one and replanted mangrove. The diversity of abundance of different meiofauna taxa in integrated mollusc-shrimp-fish farm was higher than the other two systems. Economics of integrated mollusc-shrimp-fish farm shows that the financial return ranges from USD 1,877.55 to 3,341.44 per hectare per year. Returns from the salt vary from USD 500.00 to 1,733.97 per hectare per year. Finally, the choice to plant mangrove can guarantee a return ranging from USD 4,689.67 to 14,519.22 per hectare after 12 years. In conclusion it can be said that the integrated mollusk-shrimp-fish farm option to rehabilitate abandoned shrimp ponds may be considered economically and socially viable and environmentally sustainable subject to RFD zoning of mangrove and DOF policy on shrimp farming. There is still a need to understand some other sustainable models already in place in order to identify the successful key factors in restoring such areas, thus providing best practices for a sound integrated coastal zone management. |
| Year | 2001 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-01-29 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Rubin, John A. ; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Lin, Chang Kwei;Yakupitiyage, Amararatne;Jensen, Kathe; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |