Evolve environment-friendly shrimp cultivation to protect bio-diversity

They said unplanned shrimp cultivation is damaging biodiversity and hampering ecological balance in the region.

"Shrimp culture is ecologically suicidal, socially impoverishing and economically unjust," they added.

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The workshop on 'Environment friendly and socially responsible shrimp cultivation' was organised by Ishwaripur Development Foundation at Shyamnagar Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Other cosponsors of the workshop were Coastal Development Partnership, Shrimp Quality Support Project, World Fish Centre and the USAID.

President of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association and former minister Dr Aftabuzzaman was the chief guest at the workshop which was addressed among others by the Executive Director of Ishwaripur Development Foundation Mohsin Ul Mulak, Project Director of World Fish Centre Nasim Ahmed Alim and Regional Director of SQSP Kudrat- e- Panir.

In a keynote paper, Coordinator of Coastal Development Partnership Ashraful Alam Tutu called for integrated efforts of shrimp farmers and stakeholders for environment-friendly shrimp farming in the country.

He said saline water for shrimp cultivation has not only destroyed the fertility of agricultural lands but also damaged the biodiversity and shrunk traditional poultry breeding.

He said salinity and terror inflicted by the owners of shrimp enclosures in southwestern region have deprived the marginal people of their livelihood by displacing them from their ancestral homesteads.

Over seven lakh landless people have lost their rights to khas land due to various malpractice by the owners of shrimp enclosures, he added.

Two crore people in 15 coastal districts have become the victims of this unjust economy, he said.

Dr Aftabuzzaman said the cropland has lost fertility due to shrimp cultivation which thrives on labour exploitation, muscle power and terrorism.

" Women workers at the shrimp processing plants are subjected to serious health hazards and inhuman working condition," he added.

The speakers said if modern technology is used shrimp production will increase remarkably reducing labour exploitation and maintaining ecological balance.

They urged all especially the shrimp cultivators to be more responsible while cultivating shrimps so that people might not suffer from health hazard due to environmental degradation.

Government officials, teachers, students, businessmen, members of civil society, shrimp cultivators, representatives of local government bodies and NGO representatives took part in the workshop.