Shrimp is tasty, easy-to-find and downright seductive bathed in a buttery sauce. But before you serve your partner scampi tonight, make sure you get these small crustaceans from a source that is safe and will last. That’s because the imported, farm-raised shrimp that Americans eat might come at a huge human and environmental cost. Why should you buy shrimp from responsible farms and fisheries this Valentine’s Day? Because they don’t use forced labor or clear-cut forests, and because they don’t put antibiotics in their food that haven’t been approved by the FDA.
Shrimp is one of the most popular seafoods around. Americans eat a staggering 1.3 billion pounds of it every year! Much of the shrimp we eat comes from shrimp farms, which raise shrimp in controlled environments for human consumption. But is this farmed shrimp bad for our health?
As a seafood lover myself, I wanted to dig into the facts and learn the truth. Here’s a comprehensive look at the health and environmental impacts of farmed shrimp, as well as some tips for choosing sustainable shrimp options.
Why Shrimp Farming Is Controversial
While shrimp farming has enabled the mass production of this tasty crustacean. it comes with some downsides
-
Pollution: Shrimp farm waste water can contain antibiotics, pesticides, and other chemicals that pollute surrounding ecosystems when released untreated. Poorly located farms also cause mangrove forest destruction.
-
Disease: High density shrimp farms are breeding grounds for disease. Viruses like white spot syndrome can spread rapidly and wipe out entire farms.
-
Chemicals: Farmers often use antibiotics, disinfectants, and pesticides to maintain high shrimp survival rates. Chemical residue can remain on the shrimp you eat.
-
Nutrition Farmed shrimp have less healthy omega-3s compared to wild shrimp, Farm conditions produce shrimp higher in saturated fat and lower in key nutrients,
-
Sustainability Some shrimp farms damage coastal ecosystems and compete with local fishermen who rely on wild shrimp stocks Certain shrimp species are also overfished for feed
These concerns have caused many organizations to recommend against eating farmed shrimp. But the reality may not be so black and white.
Why You May Not Need To Avoid Farmed Shrimp
While shrimp farming clearly has impacts, there are also some common misconceptions about farmed shrimp:
-
Not all farms pollute irresponsibly. Well-run farms follow best practices for waste and chemical management.
-
Shrimp only account for 2-3% of global antibiotic use. The FDA monitors U.S. farmed shrimp and rejects any with unsafe drug levels.
-
Due to consumer demand, the industry is adopting more sustainability practices like integrated mangrove farming.
-
Certain shrimp species actually have better feed conversion ratios than chicken or pork. Less wild fish is used for feed than commonly believed.
-
Advancements in prebiotics, probiotics and immunostimulants mean less drug use on farms. Some farms are now certified antibiotic-free.
So while I don’t recommend going out and eating conventional farmed shrimp by the pound, avoiding it entirely may be unnecessary if you follow a few guidelines.
Tips For Choosing Responsible Shrimp Options
Here are some of my tips as a consumer who still wants to enjoy sustainable, healthy shrimp:
-
Choose domestic farmed shrimp: U.S. regulations prohibit certain chemicals and practices still used abroad. Domestic shrimp have a smaller carbon footprint too.
-
Look for sustainability certifications: The Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Best Aquaculture Practices certify farms with eco-friendly practices.
-
Buy wild-caught shrimp: Sustainably caught Gulf shrimp is an excellent option. Wild shrimp from Alaska, Oregon and Maine are good choices too.
-
Limit consumption: Enjoy shrimp as an occasional treat, not a daily indulgence. Eat a variety of sustainable seafood.
-
Buy frozen: Flash frozen shrimp right on the boat has similar quality to fresh. Just make sure there are no preservatives or added sodium.
-
Remove the vein: The dark vein in shrimp contains potential contaminants. Peel and devein shrimp to reduce chemical exposure.
-
Cook thoroughly: Cooking shrimp to an internal temperature of 145°F helps remove any bacteria, viruses or parasites.
The Bottom Line: Farmed Shrimp In Moderation
After researching the pros and cons, I don’t believe you need to fully avoid farmed shrimp. But it shouldn’t be a dietary staple either. Consumed occasionally and sourced responsibly, it can be part of a healthy, sustainable seafood diet. We all play a role in driving improvement through our purchasing choices too.
While shrimp farming still has progress to make, it provides livelihoods for coastal communities worldwide and allows many people to enjoy this shellfish who otherwise couldn’t. With continued advocacy, technology improvements, and robust regulations, the shrimp industry can become safer and more sustainable over time.
So go ahead and enjoy some garlic butter shrimp or shrimp scampi. Just follow the tips above to make educated choices and promote positive change. A shrimp cocktail here and there likely won’t harm your health or our oceans. Moderation and responsibility are key.
Trafficked workers in Thailand might also catch the fish that feed farmed shrimp
Thai people catch small fish like anchovies and sardines as bait, cook them, and then grind them up to make pellets that are fed to shrimp farms, animals, and pets. But because Thailand’s oceans are drying up, fishing trips have to last longer and go farther to catch fewer fish. This means that fishermen can’t make much money. For some vessel owners, the gruesome solution to this problem is human trafficking.
As a 2014 Guardian investigation discovered, men kidnapped to work aboard Thailand’s so-called ‘ghost ships’ were starved, drugged and forced to work 20-hour days. Men too sick to work were thrown overboard. Those who disobeyed their captors were tortured or executed.
After these revelations about human trafficking in shrimp feed and processing, many victims were rescued. A flurry of lawsuits followed, along with vows from Thailand that it would compensate victims and promises from the shrimp industry that it would eliminate slave labor from supply chains. However, a subsequent investigation in late 2016 found that some Thai shrimp companies and government officials had failed to follow up on these promises.
Local communities in Asia and Central America can suffer when shrimp farms arrive
Local and indigenous fishing communities across Asia and Central America rely on mangrove forests for food, income and other resources like firewood. Mangroves are important nurseries for young fish that grow up to be commercially valuable, and are lifelong homes for scores of fish, shellfish, bird and mammal species. But when a shrimp farm comes to town, it can privatize and destroy this vital resource. And if fishing communities put up a fight, the repercussions can be fatal.
In the past, murders and rapes in Bangladesh have been connected to protests against shrimp farms. In Guatemala, police and private guards have murdered fishers who protest shrimp farms’ pollution and destruction of once-rich fishing grounds. Murders have also been tied to shrimp aquaculture in almost a dozen other countries including Mexico, the Philippines and Brazil.
Shrimp: The Disgusting Truth
Is shrimp bad for You?
For folks without these conditions, shrimp and othershellfish can be included in a heart-healthy eating plan along with other lean animal and plant proteins, per the December 2019 Circulation report. Experts explain if shrimp is bad for you, considering its cholesterol and sustainability concerns.
What are the side effects of eating shrimp?
Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.
Are farm-raised shrimp bad for the environment?
When it comes to imported, farm-raised shrimp, you might be getting a side of human rights abuses and environmental woes. Shrimp is tasty, easy-to-find and downright seductive bathed in a buttery sauce. But before you serve your lover some scampi tonight, be sure to buy these bite-sized crustaceans from a safe, sustainable source.
Are industrial shrimp farms bad for You?
Dirty shrimp? Another issue associated with industrial shrimp farms is that they’re unsanitary breeding grounds for bacteria that could make us sick, and antibiotic usage is common.