SUSTAINABILITY

Shrimp farming sustainability depends more on management than on the production model, study finds

China, 16 January 2026 | Variables such as survival rate, energy consumption and nutrient management have a greater impact on overall sustainability

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The sustainability of shrimp farming systems depends less on whether farms use traditional ponds, biofloc systems or recirculating aquaculture systems, and more on how effectively key performance variables are managed. This is the main conclusion of a new large-scale scientific analysis comparing the economic, environmental and social performance of the main shrimp production models used across major producing countries worldwide.

The study based on data extracted from 136 peer-reviewed publications, challenges the widespread tendency to label certain farming systems as “sustainable” or “unsustainable” based solely on their technological approach. Instead, it shows that survival rate, energy consumption and nutrient management consistently have a greater impact on overall sustainability than the choice of production model itself.

Traditional monoculture ponds tend to perform worst overall, mainly due to higher nutrient emissions and weaker environmental indicators. However, the study also shows that highly intensive or high-tech systems do not automatically perform better. In particular, recirculating systems achieve strong results in reducing nutrient discharge, but their high energy demand and associated carbon footprint limit their overall sustainability score.

Integrated multi-trophic pond systems emerge as the most balanced option in this analysis, not because they maximise production, but because they reuse nutrients more efficiently and distribute impacts more evenly across sustainability dimensions.

One of the most practical findings for producers is the central role of survival rate. According to the analysis, when survival drops below roughly 68%, differences between production models become much more pronounced. Above that threshold, performance gaps between systems narrow significantly.

The study also highlights that some systems often promoted as sustainable carry hidden costs. Biofloc systems, for examples, can deliver good production results but require high levels of aeration and energy input. Water-exchange systems may support output and employment but perform poorly in environmental terms due to nutrient losses.

The data show that sustainability depends on measurable management variables rather than a single production model, and highlight general trends rather than criteria suitable for regulation or certification. Local conditions and management remain decisive, while animal welfare, product quality and financial risks are beyond the scope of the study.

The findings suggest that future discussion about sustainability – whether in policy, certification or investment – should focus less on promoting specific farming models and more on how farms manage the variables that actually drive performance.