LOW-SALT SHRIMP AQUACULTURE IN THAILAND - GOODBYE COASTLINE, HELLO KHON-KAEN

Intensive shrimp culture has been confined to relatively narrow bands of land along the seashores of tropical developing nations due to the need for large volumes of saltwater for water exchange during the cult ure period. Recent developments in Thailand suggest, however, that thi s close association could soon be a thing of the past. Large numbers o f Thai farmers are adopting low-salinity culture systems that rely upo n sea or salt pan water that is trucked inland. This development great ly increases the potential for establishing shrimp cultivation much fu rther from the coast than previously believed possible. The migration of intensive shrimp farming into freshwater environments, however, rai ses serious concerns over the disposal of pond effluents and the impac t of saltwater intrusion on surrounding agricultural activities. In th e absence of effective government regulation of the expansion and oper ation of the shrimp culture industry, supporting local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and community initiatives may be the only means of minimizing the negative impacts of shrimp farming on rural communit ies.