Should we eat prawns?

Define · Locate · Select · Organise · Present · Evaluate Define the task Scenario From the tiny shrimps in fried rice to the luscious prawns we pop on the barbeque or enjoy in dishes from around the world, prawns are a tasty and nutritious addition to diet. Their increasing availability and affordability should make us ask where these prawns are coming from and how this is impacting the environment and people’s lives. In this Global Learning Quest teams investigate the environmental, social and economic benefits and costs for prawn farmers in countries of Asia and Australia to help answer the global question: Should we eat prawns? Background The prawns we eat may come from the ocean around Australia, from ‘farms’ (aquaculture), or be imported from countries in South East Asia. Prawns from the ocean are caught with large nets trawling behind boats but devices must be fitted to protect the unintended ‘by catch’ of tortoises and other fish which are discarded by the prawn fishers. Nearly one third of prawns eaten are grown through aquaculture but there are concerns about the destruction of the environment, disease, pollution and destruction of fish stock in order to intensively feed the growing prawns. The prawn industry provides valuable income for people in Australia and South-East Asia but the benefits are often greatest for the processing companies outside the fishing communities. Perspectives on the Global Question Team roles Form teams to become experts in your role. Prawn farmers from countries of Asia Your family has been farming rice on a small plot and fished for your daily needs but with the need to earn an income to pay for schooling and health care for your children you have taken out a loan to develop a prawn farm. You have cleared the mangroves, dug ponds and bought up prawn larvae for growing with fishmeal. You have had a couple of good seasons making a better income but recently disease and pollution have reduced your income. Also when fishing you have found that you are no longer able to catch other varieties of fish. It is tempting to give up and let the large overseas firms take over your debt and land. You could then reduce your worry and work on the large commercial farm. Activist for change Your research and campaigning is centred on developing more sustainable practices in the prawn industry in countries of Asia. It includes the protection and replanting of mangroves to provide a buffer against the sea and habitat for a variety of fish. You are also advocating training and income support for small prawn farmers so that environmentally friendly practices are followed and people are not forced to give up their land or crippling debt. Australian prawn farmer You earn a good living producing prawns for the Australian and export market in an environmentally friendly way. You are concerned that cheap prawns from countries in Asia are undercutting your market and that the prawns have high rates of chemicals and could bring disease into Australia. Australian researcher Australian aid has helped develop varieties of prawns and training for more sustainable techniques of aquaculture to make the prawn industry more sustainable in developing countries. Locate

Background

	GreenFacts: State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
	Globefish: An Overview on the World Shrimp Market

Prawn farmers from countries of Asia

	Are the World's Fisheries Doomed?
	Sureerath Prawns Thailand
	Prawns: Bangladesh's Mixed Blessing

Activists for change

	Defending Our Oceans: Community Impacts
	Mangrove Action Project
	Hungry for Change

Australian prawn farmer

	Production, Processing and Exports and Imports of Fisheries Products
	Prawn Cocktail Ready to Explode
	Tassal comes the raw prawn import
	Australian Prawn Farmers Association

Australian researcher

	Sustaining Prawns in the Padi
	Australia Advances: Prawns with Brawn

Select Background questions What are the positive and negative impacts on the environment and people in supplying prawns to western markets? Specific role questions Fishing villagers How has prawn fishing changed your life? What future do you see for prawn farming? How might you earn an income in the future?  Activists for change What environmental problems are there in the prawn industry? How should they be addressed? What social problems are there in the prawn industry? How should they be addressed? Australian prawn industry How is the Australian prawn industry addressing environmental and social concerns in the prawn industry? What challenges does the Australian prawn industry face? How is it addressing these challenges? Australian researchers How is Australian research helping address environmental and social concerns in the prawn industry? Organise Use the information you have gathered to create a PNQ chart of the impact on the environment and people of the prawn industry from your role’s perspective. Gather any further information you can about how the questions you have listed are being addressed. As a group decide whether the benefits outweigh the problems in the prawn industry from the perspective of your role. List some changes you think are necessary to make the prawn industry safer and fairer. Present Each group should present their PNQ chart and their suggestions for change to the other groups. Create new groups of four with a member from each of the role groups. Keeping your role in mind decide as a group your answer the global question: Should we eat prawns? Outline any considerations you might want to make to ensure the prawn industry is safe and fair. Evaluate   High Medium Low Collecting information       Ability to gather relevant information Used a large number of appropriate resources to gather information which was important and related to the questions. Used a variety of resources and collected information which was generally useful. Used only one or two resources and did not select the key points to answer the questions. Ability to use information to support a particular perspective Able to develop an understanding of a particular point of view about the issue and supported this well with information gathered. Presented a key aspect of a particular point of view about the issue and provided some information to support it. Formed opinion with only limited use of the information gathered. Working as a team       Ability to work with others in a group Listened carefully to others, shared own information and supported others to express their point of view and keep the group working together well. Listened to others and made some comments to support the group work together. Listened to some people but did not always encourage others to contribute their ideas. Presenting information       Ability to present information with rationale Presented key points with supportive evidence. Supported the key points with some evidence. Presented some key points in a short manner. Taking action       Ability to apply learning and create own response to the issues of eating prawns I can use information to analyse sustainability in the prawn industry. I provide evidence to explain an aspect of sustainability in the prawn industry. I can ask some questions of clarification about sustainability in the prawn industry.

Task: In this Global Learning Quest teams investigate the environmental, social and economic benefits and costs for prawn farmers in countries of Asia and Australia to consider whether the prawn industry is sustainable. Should we eat prawns? Learning Areas: Social education   Year levels: Lower secondary   Duration: Minimum of four 45-minute lessons   Tools needed: Access to the Internet; reference material, large sheets of paper and markers to present action lists