Thailand Thani Shrimp Aquaculture Improvement Project

Last Update: March 2015

Species: Penaeus spp. including P. monodon (black tiger shrimp) and P. vannamei (Pacific white shrimp or whiteleg shrimp)

AIP Region: SFP conducted scoping activities and consulted with key stakeholders in the targeted shrimp-producing provinces of , which are mainly in the eastern and southern part of the country. Approximately 70 percent of the country’s shrimp production comes from the southern part of Thailand. The pilot zone for Thailand is in the Chaiya, Tha Chang, and Tha Chana districts in Province. This province is one of the major producers of shrimp on the southern coast (see map below).

Source: Google Maps

Contact: If you would like more information about the AIP and its zonal approach, or wish to support the AIP, please contact SFP.

Sustainability Information:

Several NGOs have ranked farmed shrimp from Asia including Thailand, but provide conflicting assessments, creating confusion among consumers: a. Monterey Bay Aquarium ranks farmed shrimp from Thailand as yellow (Good Alternative)provided that the product is coming from a fully recirculating system (very common now among medium- and commercial-scale producers). b. WWF Hong Kong ranks farmed shrimp in Asia as red (Avoid). c. WWF Singapore Seafood guide ranks tiger shrimps (both wild and farmed) as red (Avoid). d. Greenpeace International ranks tropical shrimp and prawns on its Redlist of seafood species. e. Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) released a report on the social issues of the shrimp industry in Thailand, where child labor and unfair treatment of migrant workers exist. f. Blue Ocean Institute (BOI Seafood Guide) ranks all imported farmed shrimp (including farmed shrimp from Thailand) as Red (based on a combination of farming issues including poor management and environmental impacts).

Date Publicly Announced: 2014

AIP Development

The goal of the AIP is to improve regional management practices of shrimp farms in the major production region(s) in the southern part of Thailand and to embed improvements in official regulations relating to regional carrying capacity, disease transmission, and impacts on the wider environment (e.g., through pollution, habitat destruction, feed ingredients sourcing, and wider biodiversity impacts). The improvements will also ensure that small-scale farmers have access to information and increase awareness of better management practices in order to meet the requirements for certification.

SFP’s objective is to demonstrate that aquaculture zonal management is a critical aspect of ensuring sustainability in an aquaculture region. This will inform the AIP members and other key players that will provide input to the local government aquaculture development plan for the region, as well as educate producers regarding good aquaculture practices requirements and standards for farmed shrimp. Specific activities include:

• Convene buyers, their suppliers, and local farmers through meetings, workshops, and roundtable discussions to develop zonal managementprograms/activities • Circulate updates on Surat Thani farmed shrimp to major buyershighlighting outstanding issues and improvements in the shrimp industry • Assist major buyers in developing procurement policies for farmed shrimp • Promote understanding of sustainability by engaging major players in the shrimp supply chains • Develop and communicate strategies for small-scale farmsaimed at improving management systems to a certifiable level • Share lessons learned regarding best management practices in aquaculture zones for shrimp farming elsewhere in Thailand and in other shrimp-producing countries in the region.

The Surat Thani Shrimp AIP is a relatively new program for SFP (started in early 2014), but baseline information was gathered prior to the start of the program. SFP has been working closely with key players of the shrimp industry in Thailand, including the Surat Thani Shrimp Farmers Club, several institutions working on developing the shrimp industry in Thailand, and processors, as well as academic institutes and governmental agencies. SFP is also working with a USAID MARKET project managed by Nathan Associates to promote the expansion of zonal management.

Background:

Shrimp farming in Thailand started in the 1950s as part of the general introduction of aquaculture in the country. Most producers used extensive farming systems, and during this period the use of wild seed was an accepted and common practice.

Black tiger (P. monodon) shrimp culture started in Thailand in the late 1970s, and from the mid-1980s it was the lead species for production and export, but suffered a decline in the 2000s due to the disease issues that affected the Asian shrimp industry in general. While some Asian producers stopped operating, most tried to find ways to revive the Asian shrimp industry, and some shifted to farming other species; this is why the Pacific white shrimp (P. vannamei) was introduced in the region. Production of white shrimp increased, dominating the aquaculture industry in both freshwater and brackish water/marine systems from the early 2000s until recently (see Figure 1).

The onset of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), which was later known as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), in 2012–2013 has affected shrimp operations and resulted in decreased production (by more than 50%) and affected export levels. The Department of Fisheries of Thailand and other experts, including members of the farmer associations, are working hard to determine the causes of EMS/AHPND as well as finding solutions to control outbreaks.

Figure 1. Annual production of farmed shrimp in Thailand (Source: DOF 2013, FAO 2014)

Globally, shrimp is one of the most popular seafoods being consumed and the pressures on farmed shrimp are mounting. Growing issues in the capture fisheries for shrimp has increased the demand for farmed shrimp. Furthermore, the fallout from the EMS issue has drastically impacted other shrimp-producing countries that are not yet affected by the disease, increasing demand and prices quite significantly.

AIP Progress Update:

2014

SFP obtained USAID MARKET project support for the AIP and worked with Kasetsart University and the Surat Thani Shrimp Farmers Club (SSFC) to deliver the project on the ground. In discussion with SSFC and the provincial Department of Fisheries, pilot zones of producers were identified in Chaiya, Tha Chang, and Tha Chana. The concept of zonal management was introduced and a training assessment completed in order to design workshops that suit the producers’ needs.

SFP and SSFC conducted two meetings/workshops in September and December for the member producers. SFP developed a briefing to further explain the different activities involved in zonal management. Because the meeting participants came from different shrimp culture areas, discussion included determining who will be the target implementer of the zonal management plan (both in the pilot areas and elsewhere).

SSFC also conducted an Input Supplier and Local Feed Supplier workshop. This workshop developed a briefing focused on “working together to stop EMS and other shrimp diseases, reduce and control pathogens, and be vigilant to prevent new shrimp disease outbreaks” based on the zonal management approach of grouping according to water source.

This workshop assigned the sub-area representatives to collect the field data for major disease occurrences and report to the SSFC meeting on 1st and 15th of each month.

2015

January Continued coordination of the zonal management program with member producers in Surat Thani Shrimp Farmers Club (SSFC).

Local coordinator of the zonal management program in Thailand joined the SFP Retreat and update the regional activities.

February SFP attended Thailand’s National Shrimp Day in Surat Thani on 14-15 February 2015, where key stakeholders of the shrimp industry were present. SFP discussed continuing aquaculture improvement project (AIP) activities with the Surat Thani Shrimp Farmers Club and other key players in the shrimp industry even after the MARKET project funding ends in March.

The local coordinator contacted the main shrimp exporter for a letter supporting the zonal management approach for AIPs

Activities Planned for 2015:

SFP, in collaboration with the local partners (i.e., Surat Thani Shrimp Farmers Club), plans to further promote the zonal management approach in Surat Thani through activities including:

1. Create a network of shrimp producers in aquaculture zones and implement improvements on zonal management.

2. Conduct workshop to review existing aquaculture policies that can be related to zonal management and to recommend improvements on the policies, if needed.

3. Develop management plan to minimize the risk of disease outbreak in the region.

4. Conduct improvement trainings for shrimp farmers, particularly the small-scale producers, with particular focus on zonal management.

5. Engage global buyers to support activities relating to zonal management.

6. Increase the demand for aquaculture improvement programs through a zonal approach in other parts of the country.