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The impact of the expansion of shrimp aquaculture on livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Abu Nasar Abdullah

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Bronwyn Myers

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Natasha Stacey

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Kerstin K. Zander

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Stephen T. Garnett

    (Charles Darwin University)

Abstract

The area used for shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh has increased about tenfold since 1980. This study examines how shrimp aquaculture has affected the livelihoods of people living beside the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh. Using household survey data from 264 households in six villages in Mongla, we found that shrimp income represents 46 % of the total household income for the higher-income households, but just 26 and 8 % for middle- and lower-income households, respectively. Higher-income households were able to derive both larger absolute and relative income from the shrimp sector than the lower-income households, mainly because they had more land initially and used that to acquire ownership or access to most remaining land. This has exacerbated existing inequities so they are greater for shrimp aquaculture than for other livelihoods such as fishing or farming. The expansion of shrimp aquaculture has largely happened by converting agricultural land into shrimp farms. Often this agricultural land was acquired from the poorest people, leaving them even more vulnerable because they have been forced into poorly paid labour or the collection of wild resources from the mangrove forest (often illegal).

Suggested Citation

  • Abu Nasar Abdullah & Bronwyn Myers & Natasha Stacey & Kerstin K. Zander & Stephen T. Garnett, 2017. "The impact of the expansion of shrimp aquaculture on livelihoods in coastal Bangladesh," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 2093-2114, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:19:y:2017:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-016-9824-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-016-9824-5
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    Cited by:

    1. T. Vamsi Nagaraju & Sunil B. Malegole & Babloo Chaudhary & Gobinath Ravindran, 2022. "Assessment of Environmental Impact of Aquaculture Ponds in the Western Delta Region of Andhra Pradesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Trung Thanh, Hoang & Tschakert, Petra & Hipsey, Matthew R., 2021. "Moving up or going under? Differential livelihood trajectories in coastal communities in Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Md. Humayain Kabir & Delwar Hossain, 2021. "Environmental Impacts Of Shrimp Farming In Chakaria Upazila Of Cox’S Bazar In Bangladesh," Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 5(2), pages 143-151, October.

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