In Bangladesh, the Government, along with International financial and multinational organisations specialised in fish farming such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), promoted and introduced shrimp farming as a commercial activity that can raise the economic status of the country. Shrimp industry became the second largest foreign currency earner after garment production. However, the increase in shrimp aquaculture farms, which has resulted in the destruction of entire natural ecosystems and local economies based on agriculture and fishing, faces opposition from local communities and environmental organisations. As for instance, the salinisation of the soils decreases the fertility of the agricultural lands and it also provokes health problems among the population. The Environmental Justice Foundation, based in London, has also been denouncing for years the poor working conditions of the shrimp farms’ operatives. Still the trend in favor of this industry remains sustained by the collaboration between Bangladesh authorities and international organizations. In 2015, the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries together with the FAO announced a new project development of $ 38 million for increasing the saline water availability in shrimp enclosures « in Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Cox's Bazar districts ». |