The world's population is projected to increase to an estimated 10 billion by 2050 (FAO 2017), with demand for animal protein expected to increase at a far greater rate due to the increased affluence in the developing world (FAO 2017). Globally, 3.2 billion people rely on seafood for 20% of their animal protein (FAO 2018). In tropical and subtropical coastal areas, aquaculture has been associated with widespread mangrove forest loss, with 38% of global historic mangrove loss being attributed to shrimp culture (UNEP 2014).
Intact mangrove forests provide an extremely valuable range of ecosystem functions and services and are principally found in intertidal zones along the coast—the same areas used for most shrimp aquaculture. The land required to raise shrimp, and the impacts on mangrove habitats and ecosystem services use vary by production type and location. Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA), or "silvofisheries", is a form of low-density shrimp and fish aquaculture where mangrove trees are incorporated into the farm system. While there have been studies on the socio-economic impacts of such systems, comprehensive studies on the ecological dimensions are lacking.
I have taken a closer look at IMA systems within the broader context of global shrimp aquaculture production, aggregated available information relating to the environmental benefits and ecological considerations of IMA systems compared to intact mangrove forests, and projected potential future implications of continued use and expansion of IMA systems to meet an ever growing global demand for shrimp.