EFFECT OF SHRIMP CULTIVATION ON LAND AND LAND COVER 6.1. Introduction Evidence from the ground rather from statistics, shows that land degradation due to shrimp culture is a serious problem in the coastal area. Increased soil salinity in the land and water owing to shrimp cultivation is being reported on the various studies. The conflicts between shrimps cultivation and changing land use pattern also discussed in the previous chapter of this study. Siltation of river / canal and flooding the fields by saline water and year after year shrimp cultivation, blamed a serious consequences for agriculture, vegetation, grazing land livestock, fisheries and wildlife, drinking water, biodiversity, etc in this study. This chapter presents changes of land and land uses in respect of high siltation, long time waterlogging, change of soil quality, problem of salinity and depletion of vegetation. The schematic flow diagram ( Figure 6.1 ) is used describe various functions and interr