We, the delegates of twenty-one non-governmental and community organizations from Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia, the participants in the Choluteca Forum Aquaculture and its Impacts, express the following declarations and demands to the international community:
WE DECLARE
Our concern over the increasing environmental destruction evident world
wide, and in particular the destruction of mangrove forests, estuaries,
and lagoons; and, in general, we declare our deep concern over the conversion
of coastal wetlands and areas to shrimp farms, an unsustainable activity
that is growing in an uncontrolled manner throughout the tropical and subtropical
regions of the world.
WE DECLARE
Our concern over the deprivation, displacement and marginalization
of native communities that depend on coastal wetlands, due to the establishment
of shrimp farms in these areas.
WE DECLARE
That the lack of planning for an integrated marine and coastal area
development is an assault against biological diversity, by allowing for
the destruction or contamination of habitats and, amongst other acts, allowing
for the wholesale elimination of marine life that is captured incidentally
in the harvest of wild shrimp post-larvae used to supply the majority of
shrimp farms in the world.
WE DECLARE
Our desire for the imposition of a global moratorium to halt the further
establishment or expansion of shrimp farming and that responsible parties
undertake a study to determine the best means to transform shrimp aquaculture
into an activity which is equitable and ecologically compatible with the
principles of sustainable development. During the moratorium, a period
of transition or conversion from the use of destructive technologies or
practices to more responsible practices should be initiated to ensure the
long term survival and health of ecosystems and the viability of a variety
of sustainable human activities dependent on those systems.
WE DECLARE
Our support for the criteria set forth in the NGO Declaration on Unsustainable
aquaculture to the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development
in May 1996. Therefore:
WE DEMAND
The implementation of the aforementioned criteria and those which are
detailed as follows:
DEMAND #1
Guarantee that the development and operation of various types of aquaculture,
in particular shrimp aquaculture, does not, in the short, medium or long
term, adversely affect biotic and abiotic environments and artisanal fisheries
and the communities which depend on them.
DEMAND #2
Ensure that shrimp aquaculture and other forms of coastal development
are conducted within an integrated plan of management that includes the
real and effective participation of all groups that benefit from coastal
resources, in particular local communities.
DEMAND #3
Ensure that the development of shrimp aquaculture is compatible with
the structure and function of natural ecosystems and with the socio-cultural
and economic interests of coastal communities and their areas of concern.
DEMAND #4
Ensure that multilateral development banks, bilateral aid agencies,
agencies of international cooperation, the FAO and other relevant national
and international organizations and institutions do not finance or promote
in any way the development of shrimp aquaculture practices which are not
consistent with these demands.
DEMAND #5
Prior to the development of any shrimp aquaculture activities, require
an evaluation of the environmental, social and cultural impacts involving
the participation, in a decision-making capacity, of NGOs and peoples potentially
impacted; in addition, require environmental audits of existing operations
on an ongoing basis with the same mechanisms for participation.
DEMAND #6
Guarantee respect for the Human Rights of all people affected by shrimp
aquaculture. Where human rights violations occur, they must be investigated
by the competent authorities and processed in accordance with the civil,
administrative and judicial responsibilities of the country concerned in
compliance with the laws, treaties and international agreements to which
such countries are parties.
DEMAND #7
Regulate the use of fresh water in shrimp aquaculture operations with
due regard to the ecological costs or impacts on the watersheds and basins
where they are located, the need for freshwater supplies for human consumption,
and the supply of water for other activities (e.g. agriculture, industry,
tourism, urban development); and prohibit the salinization of fresh waters
supplies including groundwater and reservoirs.
DEMAND #8
Ensure the protection of wetland areas, in particular mangrove forests,
rivers, lagoons, inlets, bays, estuaries, swamps, marshes and tidelands.
DEMAND #9
Prohibit the use of substances harmful to the biodiversity of the area
impacted by shrimp aquaculture operations.
DEMAND #10
Apply the precautionary principle to every step in the development
of shrimp aquaculture.
DEMAND #11
Prohibit the contamination of surrounding areas as a result of the
excessive discharge of organic and inorganic wastes.
DEMAND #12
Prohibit the introduction and the use of organisms modified by genetic
engineering and support the establishment of strict international measures
relating to biosafety.
DEMAND #13
Prohibit the use of exotic (non-native) species and stimulate research
into methods for the in-vitro reproduction of native species.
DEMAND #14
Prohibit the conversion of land used for agriculture or livestock production
to use for shrimp aquaculture production, with particular attention placed
on land-use management planning and national food security.
DEMAND #15
Prohibit the use of feeds for farmed shrimp consisting of fish that
could be used for human consumption.
DEMAND #16
Ensure that the capture of shrimp larvae and any other type of activity
does not adversely affect the survival and diversity of other species.
DEMAND #17
Ensure that the shrimp aquaculture industry assumes all civil, legal
(and corporate) responsibilities for the socio-environmental damages caused
by the industry's installations, operations and production. The burden
of proof that no damage has been done rests with the industry.
DEMAND #18
Finally, we demand a global moratorium on any further expansion of
shrimp aquaculture in coastal areas until the criteria for sustainable
shrimp aquaculture are put into practice. We also demand the formation
of an independent body of national, regional and international organizations,
including non-governmental organizations, to monitor the implementation
of this process at the global level.
Based on these demands, the organizations that endorse this declaration agree to unite their efforts and to work together to pressure governments, producers, and financial institutions as well as consumers to put these demands into practice as soon as possible.
The Non-Governmental Organizations present have approved a plan of action to begin a process of investigation, denunciation, education and public pressure to confront the activities of unsustainable shrimp aquaculture.
The following organizations support the present declaration:
Accion Ecologica, Ecuador, Amigos en defensa de la Gran Sabana (AMIGRANSA), Venezuela Asociaci)n Ecologica Santo Tomas, Mexico, Asociacion Unionense para el Medio Ambiente (ASUMA), El Salvador, Centro de Estudios de Tecnologia Aplicada (CESTA), El Salvador, Centro de Estudios Integrales del Ambiente (CENAMB), Universidad Central de Venezuela, Comite para la Defensa y Desarrollo de la Flora y Fauna del Golfo de Fonseca (Coddeffagolf), Honduras, Desarrollo Ambiente y Sociedad (DAS), Mexico, Fundacion Ecologica de Muisne (FUNDECOL), Ecuador, Greepeace International, Instituto Terramar, Brasil, Jovenes Ambientalistas (JA), Nicaragua, Mangrove Action Project (MAP), USA, Movimiento Ambientalista de Nicaragua (MAN), Movimiento de Pescadores Riberenos y Aguas, Interiores, Mexico, Natural Resourses Defense Council (NRDC), USA, Organizacion de Comunidades Negras, Colombia, PREPARE, India, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Sweden, Tumbes Silvestre, Peru, Union Nacional de Organizaciones Ecologistas (UNES), El Salvador.