The idea of making money by producing marine shrimp is appealing to many due to the luxury status of shrimp, its high market value, and demand from individuals with high purchasing power. This often leads potential investors to view this activity as a “cash cow,” with high returns and low risks. However, the reality faced by producers is quite different.
Shrimp farming, or shrimp aquaculture, can be profitable and rewarding, but it is far from an easy and guaranteed way to make profits. To address this complex industry, a relatively new concept called “Integrated Production” has been developed.
In this context, the Associação Brasileira de Criadores de Camarão (ABCC) has published a two-volume book in Portuguese on integrated production in Brazilian shrimp aquaculture. The documents describe the principles and practices of marine shrimp farming in a more rational and efficient manner.
Volume 1 covers topics related to the biological, health, legal, environmental, social, and operational aspects of the shrimp industry, while Volume 2 focuses solely on the cultivation of marine shrimp.
The book’s authors seek to demonstrate how complex this activity is and how much technical knowledge can make the difference between truly attractive profit margins and financial failures.
What is Integrated Production in the shrimp industry?
Integrated Production is an innovative approach to both agriculture and marine shrimp farming in Brazil and around the world. According to the book, “Integrated Production in Shrimp Aquaculture” should not be confused with “Integration in Shrimp Aquaculture”:
“The integration model, widely applied in poultry farming, for example, consists of a commercial relationship between the integrated (rural producer) and the integrator (a large company in the sector),” highlights the document.
The integrated producer receives technical assistance, veterinary advice, and inputs. They also have access to lines of credit and a guaranteed purchase of the production. In return, the integrated producer is responsible for producing animals according to the best production practices, adhering to animal welfare, biosafety, and health standards.
Additionally, the integrator is responsible for supplying essential production inputs (larvae, feeds, etc.), harvesting, slaughtering, processing, distribution, and marketing of the production.
In Brazil, “Integrated Production” is under the management of the “Sistema de Produção Integrada Agropecuária da Cadeia Agrícola,” coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA).
The Pillars of Integrated Production
The pillars of Integrated Production, according to MAPA, include producing safe food through the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices, product traceability, monitoring of livestock production processes, promoting clean technologies, economic viability, competitiveness in the market, environmental conservation, workplace hygiene and safety, technical training, and adding value to the final product.
Integrated production is based on mechanisms that guarantee documentation, formalization, and credibility of the accreditation and certification system. It combines production, management, and organization technologies into a sustainable and commercially competitive production system.
Benefits of Integrated Production for Shrimp Farming
Integrated Production offers numerous benefits, both for producers seeking certification and those looking to improve their practices without seeking official accreditation. By implementing this model, shrimp farming can become more scientific, efficient, safe, and sustainable.
To receive a certification stamp as an integrated producer, the shrimp farm must undergo periodic evaluations conducted by a certifying entity to assess the quality and functionality of products, services, and production processes adopted.
Biological, Health, Legal, Environmental, Social, and Operational Aspects of the Shrimp Industry
The first volume of the book delves into “Integrated Production” and its application in the shrimp industry. It also discusses biological and physiological aspects of interest to shrimp producers.
The authors describe the systems and production regimes of marine shrimp, including pond culture, extensive (family and industrial) regimes, semi-intensive, intensive, and ultra-intensive shrimp farming.
Chapter 5 of Volume 1 of the book discusses diseases affecting cultivated shrimp. The authors cover the spread of diseases, global shrimp industry pandemics, notifiable diseases, tools for disease control and prevention, and the benefits of integrated production for disease control and prevention in shrimp farming.
Subsequent chapters explore shrimp welfare and associated stress mechanisms, the environment and the shrimp industry, licensing, social responsibility, traceability, and food safety in integrated shrimp farming.
Shrimp Farming
Volume 2 of the book focuses on describing the production chain of the Brazilian shrimp industry. It also outlines the criteria for selecting areas for shrimp farm installation and the design and construction of farm infrastructure.
Chapter 4 of Volume 2 highlights the biological components present in shrimp ponds, including microorganisms, plankton, and benthos. Chapter 5 describes the physical and chemical parameters that determine the environmental quality of shrimp ponds.
The following chapters cover pond preparation, associated technologies (aerators, substrates, automatic feeders, bioremediation, probiotics, prebiotics), stocking and cultivation, and shrimp farm management.
Conclusion
Integrated Production is a strategy making a significant difference in shrimp farming, allowing producers to address industry challenges more effectively. As the shrimp industry evolves in Brazil, Integrated Production emerges as a fundamental tool for sustainable marine shrimp production.
“The book is not only intended for those interested in certifying their company or product under the ‘Integrated Production’ umbrella. Even those producers who may not meet all the requirements for company certification in the intellectual property line, or those not even interested in obtaining this certification seal, can benefit from the concepts and practices presented here,” emphasize the authors.
Above all, what the authors of this book propose is to show that shrimp farming can be practiced on a more scientific, efficient, and effective basis. Safer, more rational… more integrated.
In conclusion, marine shrimp production is a challenge, but “Integrated Production” offers a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges and ensuring a sustainable future for this industry.
The book is the result of the project “Desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para produção de ostras e camarões no litoral paranaense (CNPq Processo 403705-2013-4)”.
Reference (open access)
Antonio Ostrensky, Diego Junqueira Stevanato, Giorgi Dal Pont, Gisela Geraldine Castilho-Westphal, Marcus Vinícius Fier Girotto, Nathieli Cozer, Rafael Fernández de Alaiza García-Madrigal, Ubiratã de Assis Teixeira da Silva. 2017. A produção integrada na carcinicultura brasileira: princípios e práticas para se cultivar camarões marinhos de forma mais racional e eficiente. v.1. Aspectos biológicos, sanitários, legais, ambientais, sociais e operacionais. Curitiba: Instituto GIA. 288 p.
Antonio Ostrensky, Nathieli Cozer, Ubiratã de Assis Teixeira da Silva. 2017. A produção integrada na carcinicultura brasileira: princípios e práticas para se cultivar camarões marinhos de forma mais racional e eficiente. v. 2. Cultivando camarões marinhos. Curitiba: Instituto GIA, 2017, 352 p.
