Vietnam shrimp aquaculture industry challenges

Vietnam’s shrimp aquaculture industry is navigating environmental, biological, and structural challenges. Initially, farmers faced immediate threats from erratic weather, including heavy rainfall that caused salinity levels to drop from 12‰ to nearly 0‰, followed by heatwaves. These fluctuations destabilized pond environments and increased the risk of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). In response, some small-scale farmers engaged in early harvesting to mitigate losses, while larger high-tech operations utilized increased aeration and mineral supplementation to stabilize environments.

The industry’s difficulties have expanded to include systemic issues regarding technology and seed autonomy. While advanced methods like Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), AI, and IoT are being integrated to manage environments and labor, high costs and production inefficiencies hinder their effectiveness. Furthermore, the sector remains heavily dependent on imported broodstock for whiteleg shrimp, and domestic production for lobster seeds remains insufficient, meeting only about 10% of the demand for spotted spiny lobsters.