Sustainability Assessment of White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Production in Super-Intensive System in the Municipality of San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico

The super-intensive white shrimp system is more productive (t ha−1) than traditional systems. However, it implies greater investment in infrastructure and machinery, a continuous supply of electricity, and a specialized workforce. Therefore, the sustainability of a shrimp farm model operating in a super-intensive system in Nayarit (Mexico) was evaluated using financial analysis and life cycle assessment. The investment is important, but the fixed costs (16%) are much lower than variable costs (84%). The super-intensive farm is economically viable, with an overall profitability (29%) that is higher than that of other agri-food activities in Mexico. It is also an activity that generates a lot of employment, in relative terms, as well as economic movement in the area. The potential environmental impacts are higher than those registered in semi-intensive shrimp systems but slightly lower than those registered in intensive systems. The estimated global warming value per kg of shrimp is 5.08 kg CO2-eq, an intermediate value. Also, as the shrimp production is much higher than in traditional systems, it could have a great and positive impact on the maintenance and regeneration of the mangrove ecosystem.