Shrimp farming and mangroves: entities in conflict?

This study quantifies the possible effects on mangrove forests from activities associated with shrimp farms operating in a shrimp farming development pole in northwestern Mexico. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used, specifically ERDAS Imagine 10 and ArcGIS. Satellite image classification consisted of a statistical method by which, through a sampling of pixels, the rest of the pixels of the image were grouped into categories or classes. Two classification methods were used: supervised and unsupervised. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was computed using remote sensing data to monitor patterns of vegetation change. Results indicated a 1.8% increase in mangrove area and a 5.8% increase in mean NDVI values for the years considered (2013-2020). The results of this study are the first to show evidence that shrimp farming is not responsible for mangrove deforestation and that, by considering the original area of this plant community, its development, and health are not necessarily compromised by the presence of shrimp farms.