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Impacts of and resilience to climate change at the bottom of the shrimp commodity chain in Bangladesh: A preliminary investigation

2017; Elsevier BV; Volume: 493; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.05.024

1873-5622

Shaikh Mohammad Kais, Md Saidul Islam,

Disaster Management and Resilience

In the context of the exhaustion of marine fisheries, aquaculture increasingly plays a mounting role in the world economy and food security. However, it is confronted with and deeply affected by various threats and disruptions caused by global climate change. Bangladesh, a key site for global aquaculture production, contributes very little to global green-house gas emissions; however, it is one of the worst victims of climatic turmoil. While Bangladesh earns a large amount of foreign currency from the commercial shrimp providing livelihoods for millions, its goal of a sustainable aquaculture is recently hindered by its exposure to climate change vulnerability and extremes. Coastal Bangladesh, where shrimp is cultured, is frequently affected by extreme climatic disruptions like cyclones and storm surges that severely damage the entire coastal aquaculture. Drawing on primary and secondary data from Bangladesh shrimp industry, and using conceptual threads of climate vulnerability and resilience, this paper critically examines how and to what extent shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh—located at the bottom of a buyer-driven commodity chain— becomes vulnerable and builds resilience to global climate change. Aquaculture in the coastal Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of global climate change. Shrimp aquaculture is frequently affected by cyclones and storm surges. Worst victims are the small scale farmers and fry collectors located at the bottom of a buyer-driven commodity chain. Most small bagda farming households in Bangladesh do not seem to be resilient in any meaningful sense.