Ecological Conflicts and Valuation: Mangroves versus Shrimps in the Late 1990s

Abstract

Shrimp are harvested in two different ways. They are fished in the sea (sometimes to the cost of turtles) or they are ‘farmed’ in ponds in coastal areas. Such aquaculture is increasing around the world as shrimp become a valuable item of world trade. Mangrove forests are sacrificed for commercial shrimp farming. The author considers the conflict between mangrove conservation and shrimp exports in different countries. Who has title to the mangroves, who wins and who loses in this tragedy of enclosures? Which languages of valuation are used by different actors in order to compare the increase in shrimp exports and the losses in livelihoods and in environmental services? The economic valuation of damages is only one of the possible languages of valuation which are relevant in practice. Who has the power to impose a particular language of valuation?