Guasaule in Honduras hosts hundreds of shrimp producers every two years to learn about the latest developments in a constantly evolving industry. The shorebird agenda was part of the symposium before an audience of more than 600 producers.
The presentation about shorebirds focused on the industry’s contribution to halting the decline of the shorebird population, the promotion of the Shorebird Friendly Shrimp initiative, and the recognition of the contribution of four shrimp companies in this process: Grupo SEAJOY-COOKE, Grupo Granjas Marinas, Sahlman Seafoods and CAMANICA. Ismael Wong, general manager of the Seajoy-Cooke Group, said that “it was a presentation that shows that there are many resources and many species that can be benefited by the industry contributing at a global level, and it is a good start to continue expanding the network. In addition, the audience could see a contribution to migratory bird populations that take advantage of the farms as feeding, security, refuge, and nesting sites.”
During the event, recognition for the contribution of four shrimp companies to this process: Grupo SEAJOY-COOKE, Grupo Granjas Marinas, Sahlman Seafoods, and CAMANICA, was presented.
Why shorebirds and shrimp farming?
There is a strong connection between the semi-intensive shrimp farms established in the Gulf of Fonseca in Central America and Nearctic migratory shorebirds. According to long-term monitoring results, most shorebird species are in steep decline, and this global population decline has accelerated in the last decade. Promoting shrimp farms as substitutes for altered natural habitats and helping to improve conditions for birds is more urgent than ever. The Shorebird Friendly Shrimp initiative promotes bird-friendly aquaculture practices under a socially and environmentally sustainable approach, offering an opportunity for shrimp farms to contribute to increased shorebird habitat and, thus, to the population stability of the species they support. Erik Jaen, Vice General Manager of Sahlman Seafoods, expressed that “[for them] it’s news that there is a continent-wide monitoring, and surprising that shrimp farms are one of the sites where birds stop and rest in particular that their farms are one of those sites that birds use.”
Salvadora Morales presenting at the Symposium
What have we achieved so far?
The presentation shared the progress made over the last four years, achieved with the participation of 20 shrimp farms in Nicaragua and Honduras. Among the main achievements are: 1) Recognizing the importance of shrimp farms for 29 shorebird species, representing 56. 8% of shorebirds in Central America; 2) Designating two shorebird reserves in the Gulf of Fonseca, which include shrimp production and are now part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network; 3) Documenting the composition, abundance, and distribution of shorebirds on monitored farms; 4) Understand the importance of unvegetated, low-lying walls as very important shorebird roosting and breeding sites on shrimp farms; 5) Document shorebird use for temporary roosting and feeding of newly harvested ponds; and 6) Understand shorebird use of remnant natural salt marshes.
Left: Shrimp harvesting. Right: Shorebird nest on the bank of a shrimp pond. Photos: Juanita Fonseca.
Likewise, 40 aquaculture practices have been identified and disseminated among some producers, initiating their validation and piloting. Some practices that contribute to shorebird populations in the Gulf of Fonseca include capacity building of collaborators in shrimp farms, shorebird registration on farms, construction of shorebird-friendly walls, and management of walls without vegetation in areas of concentration to increase shorebird roosting sites.
Carlos Girón, Technical Manager of Grupo SEAJOY, said that it was exciting to learn about the journey of the birds during their migration and to see how the point of view has changed, where the industry was always seen as something purely harmful, and that in reality it is not so, there are many things in terms of the current production system where there are companies that are being responsible and that seek to support these projects, which give much importance to these issues not only to migratory birds but also to flagship projects such as turtles, mangrove care, and others.
Shrimp farms implementing shorebird-friendly practices play a critical role in conserving these species. The increasing demand for food produced in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner and the potential for shrimp farming on a global scale to meet these parameters offers a significant market opportunity for this product and for the implementation of initiatives such as Shorebird Friendly Shrimp that connect scientists, conservationists, markets, and contribute to the 2030 sustainable development goals.
Cover Photo: Willets at WHSRN site Delta del Estero Real in Nicaragua. Photo: Salvadora Morales.
