WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2013 41 affected by a variety of factors related to increased salinity, cyclones and sea level rise. Quality of life, including human health and nutritional status of residents of prawn farming communities, has declined. Food security is an issue related to decreased rice and fish production as a result of water salinization. Rice and fish have been an essential part of the life of the Bangladeshi people over time. Nevertheless, the demand for rice and fish is constantly rising in prawn farming communities as population increases. Overall, diets in prawn farming households typically contain less meat, eggs and milk. Moreover, malnutrition is increasing because of the lack of rice, fish, vegetables and fruits. Decreased rice production has meant reduced the availability of paddy straw. The decline of cattle production has had serious nutritional consequences, especially for children, caused by decreased availability of milk and meat. The reduced availability of paddy straw and cow dung, both used as cooking fuel, has resulted in less frequent cooking of food and boiling of water, causing food poisoning, food deterioration and waterborne diseases. Freshwater fish consumption by households has declined in prawn farming communities as a result of increased salinity. Reducing fish consumption has increased serious malnutrition, particular among children. There are declines in the consumption of small fish species, which traditionally have been key suppliers of micronutrients, including calcium, iron, zinc, fatty acids and vitamins, especially vitamin A. Vitamin A is of particular importance to the diet of children and lactating mothers, reducing child blindness and infant mortality. With the reduced consumption of small fish, officials have reported increased severe health problems in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Women, children and young girls are the greatest victims of malnutrition (Fig. 5). Poor nutrition in prawn farming communities has been linked to birth defects, stunted growth of children, night blindness, and increases in miscarriages and maternal mortality. In recent years, child malnutrition and maternal mortality rates have increased in prawn farming communities. Incidences of diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, malnutrition, mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, malaria and skin diseases, including infections are also higher in prawn farming communities. Household members experience rashes and itching as a result of using salt water for bathing and washing clothes and dishes. Women and adolescent girls are affected by gynecological problems, resulting from using saline water for bathing. The skin of young and adolescent girls becomes rough and unattractive from the use of saline water. Men from outside the prawn farming areas do not show interest in marrying these girls. Declining agricultural production, reducing soil fertility, increasing disease and insect infestations in field crops and increasing human and animal diseases are the major impacts of increased salinity. Less consumption of seasonal fruits has increased risk of stroke, heart disease, mouth infections and other seasonal diseases, including colds, influenza and respiratory diseases. Households of prawn farmers also face severe health problems with no medical facilities, people often suffer from urinary problems, sunstroke and hepatitis, all related to salinity. Prawn farming households suffer from chronic drinking water shortages because of elevated groundwater salinity. High levels of salinity in surface and groundwater has become almost a permanent problem. Even water pumped from deep tube-wells is too saline to drink. Tidal surges have also submerged and contaminated tube-wells and sources of clean water. People lack fresh drinking water because of poor tube-well facilities and, as such, women must walk long distances, in some cases up to 3 km, to procure drinking water from tube-wells (Fig. 6). Apart from salinity, arsenic is a common problem in drinking water from tube-wells. Prawn farming communities suffer from acute respiratory infections from consumption of impure water. Most children suffer from malnutrition, diarrhea and dysentery. Moreover, a severe shortage of safe drinking water has resulted in widespread diarrhea and dysentery, especially in prawn farming areas. As a result of the lack of fresh drinking water, most people use unsafe surface saline water or unfiltered pond water for cooking. As such, there is increased diarrhea, cholera and other contagious diseases in prawn farming communities. Conclusions Climate change represents a challenge to the sustainability of the prawn sector. Research in this area needs to be given particular attention, considering existing prawn farming practices and the development of community-based adaptation measures. Despite the certainty of climate change and impacts on the prawn sector, there are opportunities to reduce the potential vulnerability to climate related impacts through the promotion FIGURE 5. Women and children are the most vulnerable to climate change. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 42)
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