The edge

Spring 2008

The noughties

By 2001, the industry increased yieldsthrough the use of new productionsystems, both technically andeconomically. At the beginning of the1990s, semi-intensive culture increasedthe stocking rate between 8 and 10 postlarvae per square metre, with a 10 percent daily renewal of water. After thewhite spot virus outbreak, waterstopped being pumped into the pondsand stocking rates increased.Some farms have undertaken intensiveculture with aeration / ventilation and aharvesting rate of 50 post larvae persquare metre, obtaining good results.Some enterprises have also started usingaerators and increased and improvedwater filtration. All these changestranslate into larger and betterproductive results.

Trend moves towards larger producers

The shrimp industry has continued togrow since 2001 although there hasbeen a decrease of small producers and atendency to concentrate productiveareas between few large producers. The

Agnés Saborío Coze, Director of the Centre of Aquatic EcosystemsResearch of the Central American University, takes a historical look at thedevelopment of a sustainable shrimp farming industry in Nicaragua.

1988198919901991199219931994199519961997

1988 –

Study looks at land suitabilityfor shrimp farming on the PacificCoast.

1990 –

Potential of shrimp farming inNicaragua attracts both national andforeign investment.

1998 –

Hurricane Mitch hits Nicaraguadevastating the fledgling shrimpindustry losing 25 per cent ofproductive shrimp farming land.

1999 –

Outbreaksvirus though CentraNicaraguan shrimpreducing productio

Estero RealGulf ofFonsecaPadre RamosHONDURASCOSTA RICA

NICARAGUA

Rio Tamarindo

1980s

In 1988, with support from the UN Foodand Agricultural Organization, the firstevaluative approach of adequate landfor shrimp farming activity along thePacific coast was implemented. Theresults indicated an area of approximately 39,250 hectares, of which 72 per cent (28,150 hectares) wasconcentrated in the Estero Real, close tothe Gulf of Fonseca. The rest of the landwas distributed close to the Esteros of Aserradores, Padre Ramos and RíoTamarindo (Tamarindo River) in thePacific coast. These numbers wereverified by a second study in 1992 andin 1994 with the support of Pradepesca,an EU project.During the first half of the eighties therewere a few isolated shrimp growinginitiatives in salinas and enclosingsystems that were abandoned because of political instability and technicalproblems. It wasn’t until 1987 that somecooperatives managed to develop 100hectares of rustic ponds. By 1990, theseincreased to an area of around 1,000hectares, obtaining a yield of 250pounds per hectare per year.

1990s

Since 1990, the thriving shrimp activityworldwide increased national and foreigninvestor interest in shrimp farming, withsome investors applying for landconcessions. At the begining of 1998there were 8,299 hectares in production.However, in October, the tropical stormthat hit Nicaragua as a result of HurricaneMitch, reduced productive hectares by25 per cent, equalling a loss of 2,108hectares that year.In 1999 shrimp farming, already reduceddue to the previous years effects of Hurricane Mitch was further hit by anoutbreak of white spot virus, harmless tohumans but with devastaing effects onshrimp populations.