Planetary Health Consequences of Telecoupled Shrimp Farming.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Socioeconomics

Background:

• Global shrimp demand drives telecoupled systems, influencing land use in Bangladesh.
• Intensive shrimp farming transforms coastal areas into saline zones, impacting ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the planetary health impacts of shrimp farming in Bangladesh.
• To analyze the social and environmental consequences of shrimp cultivation.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach combining primary and secondary data.
• Analysis of telecoupled dynamics in shrimp farming systems.

Main Results:

• Identified 10 key health and social issues: water scarcity, infectious/non-infectious diseases, food insecurity, antimicrobial resistance, mental pressure, disaster vulnerability, social conflict, healthcare inequality, and migration.
• Shrimp farming significantly affects planetary health in southwestern coastal Bangladesh.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need for integrated, ecosystem-based agricultural practices.
• Balancing economic benefits with sustainable health and environmental outcomes is crucial.