Tiger prawn
Penaeus monodon
What to check for
Location
All Areas, All Areas, All areas
Production method
Pond, improved extensive, Pond, semi-intensive
Rating summary
There are many areas of environmental concern in tiger prawn aquaculture in India, Vietnam and Indonesia. This includes the use of illegal chemicals, including antibiotics, salinisation of soil and freshwater, direct discharges into the environment, and the use of wild caught juveniles. Supplementary feed is used in semi-intensive and improved extensive systems, however, there is little transparency of the ingredients used and no requirements for responsible feed sourcing. It’s also not known if there are any welfare regulations in place and management for the aquaculture sector in India, Vietnam and Indonesia is thought to be only partially effective in mitigating negative environmental impacts.Rating last updated January 2025.
Technical consultation summary
There are many areas of environmental concern in tiger prawn aquaculture in India, Vietnam and Indonesia. This includes the use of illegal chemicals, including antibiotics, salinisation of soil and freshwater, direct discharges into the environment, and the use of wild caught juveniles. Supplementary feed is used in semi-intensive and improved extensive systems, however, there is little transparency of the ingredients used and no requirements for responsible feed sourcing. It’s also not known if there are any welfare regulations in place and management for the aquaculture sector in India, Vietnam and Indonesia is thought to be only partially effective in mitigating negative environmental impacts.
References
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Available at https://www.fao.org/fishery/legalframework/nalo_vietnam/en [Accessed on 01.16.2025].FAO. 2005. National Aquaculture Sector Overview: Indonesia. Available at https://www.fao.org/fishery/legalframework/nalo_indonesia/en [Accessed on 01.16.2025].Hens, L., Vromant, N., Tho, N., Hung, N.T. 2009. Salination of surface water, groundwater, and soils in the shrimp farming areas of the coastal Cai Nuoc district, South Vietnam, International Journal of Environmental Studies, 66:1, 69-81. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248923902_Salination_of_Surface_water_groundwater_and_soils_in_the_shrimp_farming_areas_of_the_coastal_Cai_Nuoc_district_South_Vietnam [Accessed on 01.16.2025].Lightner, D.V., Redman, R.M., Pantoja, C.R., Tang, K.F.J., Noble, B.L., Schofield, P., Mohney, L.L., Navarro, S.A. 2012. Historic emergence, impact and current status of shrimp pathogens in the Americas. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 110(2), pp. 174-183. 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Available at https://news.mongabay.com/2018/07/pushing-vietnams-shrimp-industry-toward-sustainability/ [Accessed on 01.16.2025].Seafish. 2013. Responsible Sourcing Guide: Marine Warm Water Prawns. Available at https://www.seafish.org/document/?id=d443878e-d50b-4d78-9d68-8b5c393ed0c0 [Accessed on 01.16.2025].STIP. 2018b. Seafood Trade Intelligence Portal: Shrimp in Vietnam. Available at https://seafood-tip.com/sourcing-intelligence/countries/vietnam/shrimp/ [Accessed on 01.16.2025].Suratin, A. 2011. Restoring neglected coastal land in Indonesia. New Agriculturist. Oxfam Indonesia. Available at http://www.new-ag.info/en/focus/focusItem.php?a=2088 [Accessed on 01.16.2025].Tacon, A.G.J., Jory D., and Nunes, A. 2013. Shrimp feed management: issues and perspectives. In M.R. Hasan and M.B. New, eds. On-farm feeding and feed management in aquaculture. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 583. Rome, FAO. pp. 481–488. 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