Farmed shrimp Freshly harvested shrimp in Thailand. © mrmati
More than 3 billion people around the world—or about 40% of the global population— depend on seafood as an essential source of protein. Historically, most of this seafood has come from wild harvest fisheries. However, after rapid growth over the last three decades, aquaculture (the cultivation of aquatic species in a controlled environment) surpassed wild fisheries’ aquatic animal output for the first time in 2022, and now provides more than half of all seafood produced for human consumption.
With the right practices and in the right places, aquaculture shows enormous potential to be one of our lowest impact forms of food production, typically generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions than land-based agriculture or wild fisheries. There are some exceptions, though, with farmed shrimp being among the most notable. Most farmed shrimp is more carbon-intensive than other aquaculture species, with an average carbon footprint twice the size of farmed salmon. Because farmed shrimp is among the most popular seafood products globally, decarbonizing its supply chain is an important step towards a sustainable and robust food system.
Through the North Star Shrimp Initiative, best management practices are reducing emissions across the supply chain while bolstering businesses and restoring nature.
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2.5 kilograms
The amount of shrimp consumed by the average American each year, more than any other seafood product.
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13 kilograms
The average carbon footprint of a kilogram of farmed shrimp, among the largest for any aquaculture species.
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238,000 hectares
The area of mangrove habitat that has been converted for the development of shrimp farms over the last 2 decades.
Science-Based, Collaborative Solutions
Through the North Star Shrimp Initiative, The Nature Conservancy is working directly with farmers, feed producers, distributors, retailers, policymakers and financial institutions to build a stronger, more sustainable shrimp industry that supports businesses, people and nature for generations to come.
Our Approach
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- Collaborate with market leaders to demonstrate the feasibility of sustainable practices.
- Incentivize sustainable production at scale through market commitments.
- Codify best practices in certification programs.
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- Promote policies that incentivize sustainable farming practices.
- Disincentivize unsustainable practices, such as mangrove deforestation.
- Support the development of technologies to enforce regulations and manage natural resources.
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- Support the development of sustainability tools and practices that could be tomorrow’s “best-in-class.”
- Develop finance mechanisms to accelerate the transition to sustainable practices.
- Develop mechanisms to share the risks of transitioning to more sustainable practices.
These efforts were first introduced in Ecuador, which recently became the world’s largest supplier of farmed shrimp. Following a successful pilot, which reduced carbon emissions by 15% - 35%, this model is now being scaled up within Ecuador and applied in Asia, starting with Thailand. Our approach is tailored to each geography, accounting for local environmental priorities, the industry’s growth trajectory, social and economic concerns and existing regulatory frameworks. With those considerations in mind, interventions include one or more of the following:
Reduce On-Farm Emissions
About half of farmed shrimp’s climate footprint can be attributed to energy-intensive water pumps and aeration systems. To reduce on-farm emissions, the North Star Shrimp Initiative works with farmers to transition to clean energy sources as well as implement technologies that reduce energy use while improving efficiency and productivity.
Improve Shrimp Feed
Nearly a third of shrimp feed is soy, an ingredient that has contributed significantly to deforestation and land conversion of critical South American bioregions. Additionally, shrimp feed contains fish meal and fish oil which, when sourced irresponsibly, can contribute to the depletion of wild fish stocks. To address these concerns, the North Star Shrimp Initiative helps farmers source feed that contains deforestation-free soy, fishmeal and fish oil from electronically monitored fleets, and next generation ingredients that support sustainability goals.
Invest in Mangrove Restoration
Historically, shrimp aquaculture has contributed to mangrove deforestation to make space for new farms. About one-fifth of mangroves globally have been lost over the last 40 years, releasing hundreds of millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere and degrading habitat that is vital for coastal species and communities alike. The North Star Shrimp Initiative invests in mangrove restoration, with a focus creating local jobs in conservation.
Get Involved
Better shrimp farming is possible—and with the demonstrated success of the North Star Shrimp Initiative, we aim to raise the standard for farmed shrimp globally, making sustainability the status quo. Are you an industry stakeholder who wants help transform shrimp aquaculture?
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