Belize "Grandma" Dedicates Her Life to Shrimp Farming and the Environment

Linda Thornton

By Jill Schwartz

Linda Thornton is addicted to Belize. She moved there from her home state of Illinois 24 years ago. At the time, she was told by some people that she wouldn't last a week in this relatively remote and quiet country.

Perhaps that is because they - and even Linda - did not realize how enthusiastic she would be about growing shrimp, the job she was brought to Belize to do. Prior to moving to Belize, she had worked at King James Shrimp, the first indoor, re-circulating, artificial seawater shrimp factory in the United States. It was a great opportunity but it was basically her only experience in shrimp farming before packing her bags to move south.

Nor did they realize how enthralled she would become with this country's natural beauty. She had spent two weeks vacationing in Belize when she was younger. But, at the time, her top priority certainly wasn't conservation.

Linda's passion today for shrimp farming and for protecting the environment make her one of the best advocates for sustainable aquaculture in Central America. Aquamar, the shrimp farm she manages, is one of the most economically and environmentally sustainable shrimp farms in Belize. For example, at Aquamar (as well as many shrimp farms in Belize) water exchange rates have been lowered, feed conversion ratios have been reduced and recirculation systems are used in intensive systems.

Since she began working at Aquamar in 1996, the farm has grown from 80 acres to 1,000 acres and from one system to four systems. A hatchery and processing facility also have been added.

Linda is using what she has learned at Aquamar, as well as her experience working at a variety of other shrimp farms in Mexico and Belize, to make her next adventure a success. Less than a year ago, she opened Cardelli Farms, in part as a way to celebrate her 50th birthday. She is the only woman in Belize - and one of only a few in the world - to own a shrimp farm. She is as modest about this as she is about her contribution to sustainable aquaculture.

"In America we are taught to do everything," said Linda, who calls herself the 'grandma' of shrimp farming in Belize. "I've had a lot of different kinds of jobs at shrimp farms, which makes it much easier to own a farm."

Linda also is applying what she has learned to the Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue. In April, she was one of 55 people who participated in the first shrimp Dialogue in the Central America/Mexico region to be hosted by World Wildlife Fund. Linda is one of three producers who volunteered to be on the Steering Committee for the region. In this role, she will help guide the development of standards for responsible shrimp farming.

"The variety of backgrounds of participants that are present at the Dialogue make it intellectually challenging to coordinate a win/win sustainable solution for the producers, consumers, and the environment," said Linda.