Shrimp farming in Rio Grande do Norte – Brazil: History and Paradigms
Litopenaeus vannamei; traditional knowledge; sustainable intensification; carbono emissions; semi-intensive
Throughout its historical process, Brazilian shrimp farming has sought good economic growth rates in detriment of the negative environmental impacts generated, such as the degradation of mangroves. The intensification of the stocking density of the shrimp, following the same principles of the other shrimp farmers countries, has been diffused under the discourse of sustainability through the diversification of cultivation systems. Due to this, we aim to analyze the historical process of Brazilian shrimp farming, aiming to understand it from an anthropological perspective, to compare the zootechnical performance of the semi-intensive and superintensive cultivation systems and to estimate the CO2 emission from the conversion of mangrove areas to cultures of the semi-tensive and super-intensive. We use in this exploratory analysis an anthropological perspective considering the stages of social complexity and technological advances of the sector. Statistical and superintensive data from the zootechnical performance of small farms will be compared through statistical analysis. We will compare, through statistical analysis, the data of the zootechnical performance of the semintensivo and superintensive cultures of farms of Rio Grande do Norte. Finally, we will estimate the potential carbon emission by converting mangrove areas based on cultures area size and and the emission data available in specialized bibliography. We expect applicability in pointing out better alternatives in management aspects to reduce negative environmental impacts. In our partial considerations, we conclude that adaptations at the end of the 20th century were more successful than those observed later. Despite greater socio-political organization and wider socio-economic relations, the activity is marked by income inequalities and technical capacity among shrimp producers and and some barriers to development are conserved with respect to the forms of access to technological innovations.