Shrimp farms as a threat to mangrove forests in Kannur district of Kerala, India

Mangroves are one of the most productive, diverse ecosystems on the planet and serve as a protective barrier for coastal areas. Shrimps have a productive correlation with mangroves habitat, thereby large-scale shrimp farming pose a serious threat to mangroves ecosystems. The present study was carried out to estimate the total area under shrimp farming in the intertidal regions of Kannur district. From the study, we have documented 140 shrimp ponds, which contributes to a total area of 524.4 ha. We found that active shrimp farming area in the district is 524.4 ha in 2020. The traditional shrimp farming method accounts for 60.6% of the total farmed area while non-traditional shrimp farming accounts for 36.9% of the total farmed area; both types are expanding fast in the district. Of the five major Rivers in the district, Kuppam River has the majority of the shrimp farms followed by Dharmadam River. Penaeus monodon, Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus indicus are the shrimp species cultivated in the district. Since shrimp farms are created by replacing the mangrove habitats in the intertidal region, mangroves of Kannur district are under threat and needs serious intervention for long term survival.