Sustainable marine shrimp farming in Thailand : a comparative analysis of innovative and conventional systems | |
| Author | Ratthanin Sangsayan |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.AQ-25-02 |
| Subject(s) | Shrimp fisheries--Technological innovations--Thailand Sustainable aquaculture--Thailand |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Aquaculture is rapidly expanding worldwide, particularly in Asia, with global production reaching 130.9 million tons, valued at US$312.8 billion in 2022. Ensuring this growth to align with sustainable development requires innovative production systems. An example is the Aquamimicry Shrimp Farming (ASF), a variant of biofloc system, which applies biomimicry principles by introducing carbon sources and probiotics to stimulate microbial floc formation and support natural feed organisms. This study evaluated the sustainability of ASF in Thailand, with a focus on carbon emissions, cost-effectiveness, and labor equity, and compared it with conventional shrimp farming systems. Primary data were collected from 40 ASF farms in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, categorized by production levels into high (Group H >10 tons/ha), medium (Group M 5-10 tons/ha), and low (Group L ≤5 tons/ha). Secondary data from 52 conventional shrimp farms in Chachoengsao Province were also utilized in this study. Results showed that Group H achieved the most favorable sustainability outcomes, with higher survival rates, better feed conversion ratios, and lower emissions per kilogram of shrimp produced. The rearing phase accounted for 88.05% of the carbon footprint while electricity consumption was the dominant contributor to total carbon emissions (51.35%). Statistical analysis revealed a negative correlation between carbon footprint and shrimp survival (r = -0.357) and identified harvest size and stocking density as significant predictors of emissions. When compared with conventional systems, ASF demonstrated distinct sustainability advantages. Although average emissions from all farms operating ASF (6.97 kg CO₂ eq) were slightly higher than those of conventionalsystems (5.22 kg CO₂ eq), ASF outperformed conventional farming at higher stocking densities, showing greater efficiency and scalability. Economically, ASF farms had consistently lower production costs across all stocking densities, with feed as the largest cost component, followed by energy and probiotics. Socially, ASF farms employed more male workers, particularly in high-density systems, while conventional farms relied more heavily on female labor in lower-density operations. Overall, the findings confirm that ASF, through effective management practices, can enhance production efficiency while reducing environmental impacts and maintaining competitive economic and social outcomes. ASF thus represents a promising pathway toward sustainable shrimp aquaculture in Thailand. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Salin, Krishna R. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Datta, Avishek;Yakupitiyage, Amararatne |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Thailand;AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |