Aquaculture is an important economic activity in the coastal area of many countries and offers a number of opportunities to contribute to poverty alleviation, employment, community development, reduction of overexploitation of natural coastal resources, and food security in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Global production of farmed aquatic animals and plants in 1999 reached 42.8 million MT with a value of US$ 53.6 billion. Of this, crustacean farming (shrimp, prawn and other minor crustaceans) accounted for about 3.7% of the total yield and represented 16.5% of the total revenue from aquaculture worldwide. The yield from shrimp farming alone represented about 2.6% of the total aquaculture output that year or more than 1.1 million MT at a value of about US$ 6.7 billion. In 1999, yields from shrimp aquaculture represented more than 28% of the total shrimp market. The three main cultivated shrimp species P. monodon, P. vannamei, and P. chinensis account for more than 82% of total production. While P. monodon ranked 20th by weight in terms of global aquaculture production by species weight in 1999, it ranked first by value at US$ 3.6 billion. The annual average increase in farmed shrimp production was 5-10% in the 1990s. This achievement was driven by the high value and market demand for shrimp that attracted considerable private and public sector investment.

Development of coastal aquaculture, and shrimp farming in particular, has generated debate in recent years over the social and environmental costs and benefits. Rapid expansion of shrimp farming in some countries in Latin America and Asia has focused attention on the need for effective management strategies. Such strategies are needed to enhance the positive contributions that shrimp farming and other forms of coastal aquaculture can make to economic growth and poverty alleviation in coastal areas, while controlling negative environmental and social impacts that may accompany poorly planned and regulated developments.

Recognizing that challenges for better management of shrimp aquaculture around the world are complex, and that improved practices often result from identifying and analyzing lessons learned and exchanging such information, the Consortium Program entitled "Shrimp Farming and the Environment" has been developed. The partners are the World Bank, the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The consortium supported 35 complementary case studies prepared by more than 100 researchers in more than 20 shrimp farming countries. These cases have been developed through consultation with numerous stakeholders throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas. Cases range from specific interventions within single operations to thematic reviews of key issues in shrimp aquaculture. The cases have been presented and discussed at more than 150 meetings and workshops worldwide. The goal of the cases is to document and analyze experience around the world in order to better understand what works, what doesn't and why.