Economic and Environmental Analysis of Shrimp Farming in Chilika Lake, India

The shrimp culture industry around Chilika Lake has expanded in the last two decades under the rationale of providing economic benefits at national, regional, community and household levels. Salinisation and pollution of agricultural land especially rice paddies by seepage usually ruin crops and render the land unsuitable for agriculture. As a result there is the decline in the yield rate, which led to the conversion of agricultural land to shrimp ponds. After the shrimp culture for some years the land will be unable to support any natural or agricultural productivity. In due course, these shrimp ponds are abandoned being fit for nothing. The lack of emphasis on enforcement of different legislation, particularly environmental legislation, has allowed the shrimp farms to operate in and around the lake using culture practices that degrade the environment. Thus, the problem with the state is not a lack of legislation, but an unwillingness or inability to enforce it. As a result of this, an established livelihood system is broken down as land with multiple agricultural uses is turned over to mono-crop production. This in turn will lead to abandoned land, which is of no use after few years.