The Coastal Resources Center’s Improving Shrimp Mariculture Practices in Latin America project focused on developing and disseminating practices used to improve the efficiency and reduce the negative environmental impacts of shrimp farming. Such practices are called good management practices (GMPs)instead of best management practices (BMPs), because the “best” ways of reducing environmental impacts in shrimp farming are still evolving. The practices were developed specifically for shrimp culture in Latin American countries and represent an effort to move from the level of general Codes of Practices accepted at international levels to good management practices applicable to specific regional industries.

The recommended GMPs were developed using a participatory process and with the assistance of the National Honduran Aquaculture Association (ANDAH). Many of the practices are applicable to shrimp farming anywhere in the world and to most other types of pond aquaculture. Further modifications and refinements are anticipated for these GMPs as a result of continued collaboration with shrimp producers and aquacultural scientists.

A field survey was conducted to evaluate the degree of adoption by Honduran shrimp producers of selected GMPs believed to be the most critical including feeding, fertilization and health management practices. Survey findings indicate that overall adoption was about 70 percent. In the process of conducting the field survey, a number of areas were detected where improvement is needed; this information can be used to guide research, training and extension priorities.