Philippines: NGO campaigns for responsible and sustainable shrimp aquaculture

Many fishes and other marine species are farmed for human consumption. However, as the demand for seafood grows, aquaculture in Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, causes negative impacts on the environment, the communities that benefit from it, and the farmed aquatic animals themselves. Mismanagement of aquatic resources, substandard farm practices, and lack of awareness on sustainable aquaculture are some of the reasons that contribute to this issue. Tambuyog Development Center, Inc., a non-governmental organization (NGO), initiated the ‘Farmed Shrimp Welfare Campaign’ in hopes of mitigating its negative impacts. The campaign stresses the importance of animal welfare in the production of shrimp and other farmed aquatic species. The Philippines is the world’s eighth-largest shrimp producer and the fourth largest in Southeast Asia. Owing to this, shrimps are more viewed as products or commodities rather than animals. This is one reason why the campaign focused ...