Amounts of land, water, energy, and wild fish for feed ingredients used per metric ton (t) of production were estimated for four grow-out intensity levels (extensive, semi-intensive, intensive, and hyper-intensive) of farmed shrimp. The results follow:
Extensive production uses much less freshwater and energy than do the other production methods. Because it does not rely on feed, no wild fish use is incurred in extensive production. Extensive production uses much more direct land (land at the farm level) than does the other methods and especially intensive and hyper-intensive. Extensive shrimp production is nevertheless, not ecologically desirable because farms are located mainly in the intertidal zone. This area contains mangrove and other wetland habitat of importance for its ecological services and high biodiversity. The tradeoff of more energy, more water, and wild fish for less land seems acceptable in shrimp farming.