On July 26th, Greenpeace joined thousands of people in the fishing community worldwide, in demonstrations against the destruction caused by the shrimp farming industry. (1). Although the impacts caused by this industry are well known, the latest data released by FAO (UN Organisation for Food and Agriculture) confirms that the production of farmed shrimp is still increasing.
"The resolutions passed under international conventions such as Ramsar have not been fulfilled (2). As Contracting Parties to this Convention, the farmed shrimp producer-countries in Latin America are responsible for the implementation of these resolutions and must fulfil their international commitments," said Sebastian Losada, of Greenpeace.
The last data released by FAO show that since 1980, 25% of mangrove surface has been lost world wide (3). According to FAO data, in extreme cases such as Honduras, the mangrove surface has gone from 156,000 hectares in 1980 to only 50,000 in 2000 (a 68% decrease).
Together with the disappearance of mangroves, the world production of farmed shrimp goes on increasing, reaching a new record in 2001 - the last for which data is available - by 1,270,875 tons.
"Governments cannot continue to support this unsustainable industry that destroys mangroves, devastates local peoples' livelihoods and pollutes the environment. To turn this devastating trend around, governments must include [the fishing community] all over the world and realize that sustainable development objectives will not be met without the participation of those who have used mangrove ecosystems in a sustainable manner for centuries," added Losada. "Authorities must guarantee the safety of those community organisations that are opposing the shrimp farming industry".
On July the 26th 1998, Greenpeace was taking part together with FUNDECOL (an Ecuadorian NGO), in the reforestation of an area devastated by the illegal construction of a shrimp farm. During that action Hayhow Daniel Nanoto, the medic onboard the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace's flagship, died of a heart attack. Since then, this day has been designated as the Day of the Mangrove. Today, 5 years later, the expansion of the shrimp farming industry is still going on. Greenpeace continues asking Governments to act against the destruction caused by this industry.
Notes to Editors
(1) These countries include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Kenya, Nigeria, Germany and the United States.
(2) Ramsar is the International Convention for the Protection of Wetlands. Resolution VII.21 passed in the Convention of the Parties 7 which took place in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1999, "URGES all Contracting Parties to suspend the promotion, creation of new facilities, and expansion of unsustainable aquaculture activities harmful to coastal wetlands until such time as assessments of the environmental and social impact of such activities, together with appropriate studies, identify measures aimed at establishing a sustainable system of aquaculture that is in harmony both with the environment and with local communities".
(3) "FAO releases new global estimate of mangroves", March the 10th 2003, available at http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2003/15020-en.html
