In this conversation, Simao Zacarias explains the importance of the characteristics of the shrimp production system on the nature and level of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions that cause global warming

Simao Zacarias has recently completed his PhD where he looked at developing higher welfare practices for producing farmed white-legged shrimp. His results suggest that avoiding the removal of the eyestalk, conventionally used in hatcheries to improve hatchery efficiency is unnecessary. Moreover he found that disease resilience of shrimp produced without ablation is improved. Simao won a GAA Innovation award for his work.

Simao conducting research on shrimp broodstock

Some of the key points raised in the discussions are how:

improvements in feed quality, source and management have been key approaches to reduce the impact of feed in shrimp farming GHG emissions.
the adoption of annual mangroves forestation programs is reducing the impact of mangrove clearance on GHG emissions.
the shift to intensive systems enables minimal use of land and water, and reduces the environmental impacts.
adopting high welfare farming practices improve shrimp wellbeing and robustness.