Revealing exploitation in the shrimp cultivation industry of Bangladesh

This paper reveals how exploitation manifests in the shrimp cultivation industry of Bangladesh. Fish, as the second most valuable crop, contributes significantly to Bangladesh’s national income and food security. Due to the demand for cheap shrimp in the international market, shrimp farming is expanding in Bangladesh. Therefore, different studies raise concerns about the shrimp supply chain, labour practices, and exploitation of shrimp producers and fry collectors within the industry. This study was conducted in two districts of the Khulna division in Bangladesh, employing a qualitative approach that included Key Informant Interviews (KII) and In-depth Interviews (IDI). Findings show that there is a complex interplay of economic status and power dynamics in the shrimp industry, which leads to persistent oppression and inequality. In the shrimp cultivation sector, fry collectors and small gher (polder) owners (shrimp farmers) are economically vulnerable and belong to the bottom of the supply chain. They are subjected to a myriad of exploitation, cyclical indebtedness, and bribery by those who belong at the top level of the supply chain, such as Aratdar (fish auction place owner and seller), big gher owner (a polder owner), and Faria (small-scale fry traders).