Vietnam is a global leader in aquaculture production and export, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in food production worldwide. Within this sector, shrimp farming stands out as a strategic economic pillar. In 2023, Vietnam’s shrimp export turnover reached an impressive $3.4 billion[1], maintaining the country’s position as one of the top shrimp exporters globally. The growth of the shrimp industry has brought significant economic and social benefits; however, it has also introduced various environmental and resource-related challenges that need to be addressed.
In the Mekong Delta, which is a crucial region for Vietnam’s shrimp farming, the majority of farms are small to medium-sized and that rely on traditional farming practices. These practices often result in low productivity and inconsistent output. Additionally, the deterioration of water resources and increasing pollution have led to reduction of shrimp survival rates, and in turn, lowering yields. Besides, farmers in this region typically lack the opportunities and capacities to adopt innovative techniques and skills necessary for effective management and business development.
To tackle these challenges, an improved Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) has been developed for the conditions in Vietnam. RAS is an innovative approach to shrimp farming that recirculates water, significantly reduces water usage, prevents disease transmission, and minimizes environmental impact. Although it is used by large farms due to high initial costs, RAS is now being tested on medium-sized farms by GIZ Vietnam in the Mekong Delta through the collaboration with Can Tho University (CTU) in Can Tho city and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Soc Trang Province with two pilot RAS models. The initial evaluation and improvement of these pilot models have shown that RAS models are well-suited to Vietnam’s shrimp farming conditions. The pilot’s results indicated that 90% of water was successfully recirculated, wastewater and sludge discharge were minimized. Furthermore, the survival rate is about 85.9% which has increased by 6%. Farming time has been reduced while harvest yield has increased compared to traditional methods. These findings imply that RAS is highly adaptable to shrimp farming in Vietnam from both technical and investment perspectives.
Numerous advantages that RAS addresses over the traditional aquaculture methods regarding environmental, economic challenges:
Environmental aspects:
- Water Conservation: RAS significantly reduces water usage by continuously recycling and treating water within the system.
- Pollution Control: RAS minimizes nutrient-rich effluents by treating waste internally, thus reducing the risk of water pollution.
- Disease Management: By providing a controlled environment, RAS reduces the risk of disease outbreaks often exacerbated by poor water quality.
Economic aspects:
- Higher Productivity: RAS can achieve higher stocking densities and more efficient feed conversion rates, leading to increased shrimp production on smaller land footprints.
- Consistent Production: RAS allows for consistent, year-round production, independent of seasonal variations and adverse weather conditions, ensuring a stable supply of shrimp.
- Innovation and Investment: Promoting RAS stimulates innovation and attracts investment in aquaculture technology, advancing water treatment, waste management, and system design.
[1]https://en.vietnamplus.vn/shrimp-exports-to-reach-34-billion-usd-in-2023-vasep-post274576.vnp
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Key Buzzwords
innovative, sustainable, shrimp production, Mekong Delta, resilient climate
