Despite the economic importance of farmed shrimp, a number of technical, environmental, economic and social problems have been widely reported in the international literature . This paper focuses on the environmental and socio-eco nomic impacts of semi-intensive and intensive shrimp farming in the coastal region of Northeastern Brazil and the iden tification of options for sustainable production . In this Region, the total area dedicated to shrimp farming is approxi mately 18,500 ha , of which 5750 ha are located in Ceará State . The estuary of Jaguaribe river has the largest number of shrimp farms in the state of Ceará . Currently, the industry has 64 participating farms with a total area dedicated to shrimp farming of 2411 . 3 ha . In 2011, the total production was 13,110 tons of shrimp with an average yield of 6330 kg ha 1. year -1 in a pond area of 2071 . 2 ha . This industry employs 2350 people that represent 23 . 2% of jobs generated in the two municipalities where the Jaguaribe river estuary is inserted . Compared with other countries, Brazil has reduced its exports due to high cost inputs for shrimp farming . However, the Brazilian shrimp industry has benefited from high domestic prices , despite the decreases in international price of shrimp . In 2011, the prices for size category rang ed between U$ 4 . 67 - 6 . 04 for 80/100 (count of head-on shrimp), U$ 4 . 95 - 6 . 60 for 70/80 and U$ 5 .
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