Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Shrimp, (Silvofishery) Extensive Mixed Shrimp and Mangrove Forestry

Summary

This recommendation applies only to farms using The Selva Shrimp® Criteria developed by Blueyou Consulting Ltd. for mixed shrimp/mangrove systems - known as silvofisheries - which combine shrimp farming and mangrove forestry.

Farms are typically small and family-owned, and raise wild and hatchery-raised shrimp in pond systems within a managed mangrove forest. Farms are independently verified to be compliant with the Selva Shrimp Criteria. The criteria require the number of shrimp per pond to be low, at levels similar to those found in the wild. Use of supplemental feed and chemicals is not permitted in the criteria. As a result, there's no significant risk to the surrounding environment, despite the open nature of the ponds. It's likely that shrimp will escape from the ponds at times; but as numbers are low and all farmed shrimp must be native species, there is little risk to wild populations.

It's well established that mangrove forests are important habitats for wildlife, or offer storm protection; protections that may be lost when mangroves are removed or significantly altered. The Selva Shrimp criteria require specific levels of mangrove forest area, but while silvofisheries maintain a higher overall level of mangrove cover than the more common intensive shrimp farming systems, silvofishery mangroves are harvested every 10 to 20 years.

Special Note:This assessment is based on the Ca Mau region of southern Vietnam raising black tiger shrimp and other native species using The Selva Shrimp® Criteria developed by Blueyou Consulting Ltd. This recommendation would also be valid for silvofisheries in other regions of Southeast Asia with verified use of the Selva Shrimp® Criteria.

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Black Tiger Shrimp (Silvofishery) Seafood Watch Report