Geospatial Planning for Climate Resilient Aquaculture

Abstract

The initial phase of shrimp aquaculture was unplanned in India, which led to alleged impacts about the conversion of productive lands and ecosystems. Though brackishwater aquaculture is the only viable option which converts the wastelands to wealthy ones, however, hasty growth in an unregulated manner overshadowed its real benefits. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have seen the fast aquaculture growth compared to other coastal states in the country. Nevertheless, it attracted societal criticism due to its so-called negative impacts and failure to consider the needs of other resource users. There have been calls from environmentalists and policymakers to explore the resource base and analyze its characteristics to locate the barren lands for aquaculture. In a way, Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act 2005 is a mandatory rule imposed on coastal aquaculture in the country for regulated development. This book is based on the study carried out for identifying areas, problems, action plans for expanding aquaculture through geospatial planning in the climate hazardous coastal district, Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu as a model study. An effort has been made in the book to include spatial tools, data, and techniques relevant to aquaculture planning. This book contains ten chapters that cover issues, regulations, resource quality & availability, and suitability for sustainable aquaculture expansion. Present issues in aquaculture, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) capabilities to address them are given in chapter 1 while Chapter 2 describes the policy framework and legal regulations for aquaculture in India. Chapter 3 presents the methodology used in spatial planning incorporating land use, soil, and water resource characteristics and existing rules for aquaculture. Chapter 4 indicates the study area nature, details of climate vulnerability. Chapter 5 presents land and water resource availability, extent and current status of shrimp farms. Chapter 6 details the water and soil resource characteristics related to aquaculture planning. Chapter 7 describes the delineation of area available for aquaculture expansion. Chapter 8 presents the climate variability and its impacts on coastal resources particularly on aquaculture farms and potential regions. Focus group discussion, survey in the farmer’s fields and Stakeholders workshop formed the basis to derive the issues and problems faced by the farmer's, listed in chapter 9 while adaptation measures for sustainability are listed in Chapter 10. I hope the book will be useful for policy makers and planners in inclusive planning and developing sustainable aquaculture. This book would not have been possible without the help of several individuals and organizations at the right time in one way or another. First and foremost, sincere thanks to the aquaculture farmers of Nagapattinam district, for their participation in attending all the meetings organized by CIBA and cooperation in sharing their views. Sincere thanks to Dr.A.G.Ponniah, the former director of CIBA for supporting and providing the necessary facilities with a very positive note for carrying out this work. A great deal of thanks goes to Dr.P.Ravichandran, the former HOD, Crustacean Culture Division, for constantly guiding and encouraging this research and his involvement in the stakeholders' workshop. Funding support from National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research the climate variablity impacts assessment and stakeholder workshop is greatly acknowledged. I am very much thankful to ICAR for Extramural grant for the project on “Identifying suitable brackishwater sites for increasing aquaculture areas in the coastal state of India using multi criteria decision support system,” which provided the funding support for the printing of this book. Support received from the Fisheries, Forest, Public works, Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Irrigation Departments of the Government of Tamil Nadu deserves a special note of thanks.