Improver Programs for Smallholder Shrimp Farms
Defining Critical Elements
Smallholder shrimp farms produce most of the world’s farmed shrimp, yet they face steep challenges such as rising production costs, disease risks, environmental pressures, limited access to finance, fragmented supply chains, and hurdles to certification due to the realities of smallholder farming. This session will examine how improver programs can provide a practical, cost-effective pathway toward responsible production by focusing on farmer education, local technical support, improved data collection and traceability, affordable assessment models, and stronger market incentives. Speakers will discuss innovative approaches for organizing farms into clusters, leveraging digital technologies, engaging buyers, and developing standards tailored to smallholder operations. The ultimate goal is to improve farmer livelihoods while advancing environmental stewardship, transparency, and long-term sustainability throughout the global shrimp value chain.
Dr. George Chamberlain started his aquaculture career in 1975 as a researcher, instructor, and Extension Aquaculture Specialist at Texas A&M University. For the next ten years, he directed the aquaculture programs at Ralston Purina International and Monsanto. From 1999 to 2020, he founded and managed several shrimp breeding, nutrition, and farming companies ultimately known as Kona Bay with operations in Malaysia, Brunei, and Hawaii. Concurrent with his commercial activities, Chamberlain served as a Board member and President of the World Aquaculture Society and later helped found both the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GSA) and The Center for Responsible Seafood (TCRS). He continues to serve as board member of GSA and President of TCRS.
Antonio Santa Marta is the Global Shrimp Initiative Lead at The Nature Conservancy, where he leads initiatives to improve sustainability across shrimp farming supply chains in Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. With nine years of experience in the seafood industry, Antonio specializes in aquaculture sustainability, traceability, and technology-driven solutions. His work spans Southeast Asia and Latin America, with additional experience in aquaculture risk management across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Through partnerships with producers, seafood companies, and NGOs, he helps drive practical solutions that support both environmental and business outcomes.
Paul Bulcock is responsible for developing and maintaining aquaculture information in SFP’s systems (e.g., FishSource, AIP Directory, Metrics). He also supports development and implementation of aquaculture strategy through research and analysis.
Paul has extensive program support and aquaculture research experience, particularly in Southeast Asia, having worked for the Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA) and DFID’s Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme (AFGRP) at the Institute of Aquaculture, in Stirling, UK. He has an MSc in aquaculture from the University of Stirling and a BSc in marine and fisheries zoology from the University of Aberdeen.
With more than seven years at the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Pla Duangchai supports producers and supply chains across Asia in building capacities and adopting responsible farming practices through the ASC Improver Programme and Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP).
Drawing on her extensive experience working directly with producers and stakeholders, Pla has developed a strong understanding of the challenges they face, and the practical approaches required to make certification and improvement initiatives both feasible and impactful small-scale and commercial producers. Prior to joining ASC, Pla gained 20 years of professional experience working in Aquatic Research Institute, Seafood Processing company, Certification and accreditation body, and International not-for-profit organisations. Her broad expertise covers environmental management, social and human rights, certification systems, urban development, and responsible aquaculture development.
