Critical points in the evaluation of environmental impact in the Pacific Shrimp Nicaragua during the production process: production of larvae, operation and abandonment of farms

Abstract

Shrimp farming is a growing productive sector with great potential, especially on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. Currently, there is ongoing discussion about its potential environmental impacts. This article aims to identify and characterize the main environmental impacts of its production process to highlight critical points for environmental impact assessment. To achieve this, three companies involved in each stage of the production process were visited: larval production, shrimp farm operation, and the abandonment of shrimp farms, respectively. Semi-structured interviews and direct field observations were conducted. One of the main critical points identified in the environmental impact assessment during shrimp farm operation and larval production was water pollution from discharges at each production cycle. This potential impact could be characterized as a direct, cumulative, and possibly irreversible effect on the aquatic environment, with significant consequences on the social environment, which is also affected by issues related to the abandonment of shrimp farms, leading to legal conflicts over land ownership.