The use of coastal ponds for shrimp production and the conservation of the vegetation in Northwest Mexico

At the Northwest coast of Mexico the severely limited freshwater supply, and the geographic isolation determines the scarcity of productive activities. Specially at Baja California Sur. Aquaculture is a major productive alternative for the economic development of this State. Despite the aridity, the natural vegetation of Baja California Sur is diverse and structurally complex with a high percentage (20%) of endemic species, including 85 cacti species. Shrimp aquaculture is expected to grow quickly in the state in the next few years. One hectare of inland pond produces approximately 1 t of shrimp per year. One hectare of coastal pond produces, in the same year, 1.5 t shrimp. Construction and operation of the coastal ponds does not imply the destruction of the natural vegetation on the coast, as is required for the inland ponds. One hectare of sarcocaulescent scrub, the main vegetation type adjacent to the coastal vegetation type of Baja California Sur, contains 12 species of trees, 11 shrub species, and 8 cacti species. In Baja California Sur, there are 7,560 hectares of land with this kind of natural vegetation that could be used for the development of inland shrimp culture ponds. These 7,560 hectares contain millions of plant individuals, including, for instance, the cacti Pachvcereus pringlei. P. pringlei individuals take about 300 years on average to attain a height of 2 meters. To reduce the negative impacts of aquaculture and to protect the vegetation of Baja California Sur we recommend the use of coastal ponds for the shrimp production. Transactions on Ecology and the Environment vol 32, © 1998 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3541