Unplanned shrimp cultivation is ecologically suicidal, socially unjust and economically not viable, they said.

The workshop on 'Environment friendly and socially responsible shrimp cultivation' was organised by a local NGO, N Z Foundation with assistance from some NGOs including Coastal Development Partnership, Shrimp Quality Support Project (FQSP) and World Fish Centre; and the USA AID. It was held at Assassuni Upazila BRDB auditorium with Biswajit Sadhu in the chair.

Assassuni UNO Khan Moha-mmad Nurul Amin was the chief guest.

It was addressed by, among others, NZ Foundation Director Monzur Hossain, Assassuni Upazila Fisheries Officer Shamim Haidar, World Fish Center Project Director Nasim Ahmed Alim, Regional Director of (SFQSP) Kudrat E Panir and Abul Hossain.

Co-ordinator of Coastal Development Partnership Ashraful Alam Tutu presented the key note paper.

The speakers called for joint efforts by shrimp farmers and stakeholders for environment friendly shrimp farming to boost yield and export. Bangladesh earns Tk 1200 crore in foreign currency every year from export of shrimp and frozen foods produced in Satkhira. The yield can be increased many times if scientific and environment friendly methods are adopted, they said.

They said saline water for shrimp cultivation not only destroys fertility of agricultural lands but also damages the bio-diversity.

Intrusion of saline water in agriculture lands and unplanned shrimp cultivation in South -Western districts of the country are depriving marginal farmers of their livelihood by displacing them from their ancestral homesteads, they said.

Over seven lakh landless people have lost their right to khas land due to malpractice by owners of shrimp enclosures, they said.

About two crore people in 15 districts in the coastal area have become victims of this unjust practice, they said.

Kudrat E Panir said, croplands have has lost fertility because of shrimp cultivation which thrives on labour exploitation, muscle power and terrorism.

Women workers at shrimp processing plants are subjected to serious health hazards and inhuman working conditions, he said.

But still, shrimp production per hectare in Bangladesh is much lower compared to other countries. If modern technology replaces the traditional ones, production will increase keeping the ecological balance while labour exploitation will also be reduced remarkably, the speakers said.

Government officials, teachers, students, businessmen, members of civil society, shrimp cultivators, representatives of the local government bodies and NGO representatives took part the workshop.