Brackish water shrimp in Guyana

Rome/FAO [ENA] In the most eastern part of Guyana, near the Corentyne Coast , locals farm the endemic brackish water shrimp (Penaeus subtilis and Penaeus schmitt). The shrimp thrives in constructed ponds that contain a mix of freshwater from the Canje River, other inland waterways and saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean, generating the optimal brackish conditions that contribute to its unique flavour and colour.

There were a lot of difficulties because of climate change and other weather phenomena over the decades like the El Niño droughts and La Niña floods. There were also changes in wind patterns that bring in more fresh water from the river, which has less salinity and that affects the amount of shrimp larvae. Traditionally, farmers in East Berbice have used a production system that required little to no feeding but depended on the natural inflow of tides to fill their ponds and bring in wild-sourced shrimp larvae. This method necessitated frequent changing and excavation of new fishponds to encourage shrimp larvae growth. While the traditional approach can be low-cost, it presents significant vulnerabilities regarding supply consistency,

environmental changes and disease. Over the years, the fertility of the land dropped, the yields dropped, the production dropped, and there was a shortfall of shrimp. To ensure sustainability and growth, the sector needed enhanced support systems, such as improved access to training, resources and market opportunities, as well as better management practices to increase resilience. In 2021, the Government of Guyana initiated a project to improve livelihoods, food security and exports of shrimp. By January 2024, the investment had amounted to over USD 1.5 million, with production surging from 105 tonnes in 2020 to 958 tonnes in 2023.

Further support came through training provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department. It exposed farmers to a method that helps to increase shrimp production through the introduction of supplementary feed and uses a controlled system that pumps water from the ocean into the ponds. As part of the project “Sustainable Development of Resilient Value Chains”, FAO and the Ministry also introduced other good aquaculture practices, such as mangrove planting and restoration.

While the up-front and running costs of the new method are higher the potential benefits outweighed the costs. FAO and University of the West Indies micro-grant funding, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) developed a training programme on mangrove planting and restoration. A community-based mangrove restoration pilot followed to support brackish water shrimp farming. FAO provided farming equipment, training in post-harvest handling, cold storage and sanitation. It also worked on improvements in pond construction so pumps could carry water from the ocean.

So far, the production system has increased yields from approximately 35 000 kilograms per month to some 60 000 kilograms per month. The industry has become more lucrative because consumers, especially from the Guyanese diaspora, are willing to pay a premium price for the product. Farmers have also started selling brackish water shrimp in other regions of Guyana. With increased yields while reducing the strain on the environment, brackish shrimp farmers have turned the tables on climate change and secured their livelihoods into the future.