The Shrimp Industry in Vietnam and the Adoption of Technology
The shrimp industry in Vietnam, which makes up a sizeable portion of the global shrimp trade, is utilizing technology to address social and environmental issues. Vietnam has been a major exporter of the crustacean thanks in large part to shrimp farms along its tropical coasts. But the rise in shrimp consumption has brought about problems including overfishing, illness, pollution, and forced labor.
Integrated shrimp businesses and the transition to artificial ponds
The business is switching from mangrove forests to manmade ponds, which enable greater management of water quality and climate, in order to mitigate these issues. The largest hatchery in Vietnam, Viet Uc, just constructed a $17 million processing facility, making it the sole fully integrated shrimp enterprise in the nation. This brand-new factory has a surface area of 14 soccer fields and is 70% automated.
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS): Their Function
Adoption of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which continuously filter and reuse water, is a big change in the shrimp industry. As it allows for high production volumes with less effluent and a reduced risk of ecosystem degradation, this technology is regarded as sustainable. However, due to significant up-front costs, the implementation of such technology could result in increased prices.
Position of Vietnam in the World Shrimp Market
After India and Ecuador, Vietnam is the leading exporter of frozen shrimp worldwide. RAS, which should be more effective and need less groundwater pumping than typical farms, has only lately begun to be adopted by the nation. The demand for shrimp on a global scale has resulted in a doubling of the shrimp trade over the past ten years, propelling exports to $22 billion by 2021.
Conclusion and Key Points
The introduction of RAS technology and the switch to artificial ponds are important advances in Vietnam’s development of a sustainable shrimp supply chain. These adjustments not only benefit the environment but also the industry’s expansion and prosperity.
- Technology is essential to improving the sustainability and productivity of the shrimp industry.
- Shrimp farming’s negative effects on the environment can be lessened by switching to artificial ponds and implementing RAS.
We hope this post has given you useful information about how the shrimp industry in Vietnam is changing. What part do you think technology will play in encouraging the seafood industry to adopt sustainable practices? What more steps may be made to address the social and environmental problems related to shrimp farming? Please share your ideas and experiences in the section below.
I think this is a very good artical. The shrimp industry is so importent for Vietnam and using tech to fix problems is smart! I hope more farms will use RAS and help the enviroment.
Honestly, this post seems overly optimistic. Just switching to tech won’t fix everything. What about the workers facing exploitation? It’s great to talk about sustainability, but what about human rights?
This post has some interesting points about RAS and tech in shrimp farming. But let’s not forget that not every farmer can afford such systems. Are we really considering all aspects of this transition?
I agree with Tenzing, it sounds good in theory but in real life many small farmers struggle to keep up with big companies investing millions! Tech shouldn’t just help the big guys!
*sigh* another article praising technology as if it’s a magic wand! Does anyone really think that replacing mangroves with ponds will solve everything? Let’s see how many fish actually survive this ‘improvement.’
*chuckles* I love how they call it a ‘fully integrated’ business while ignoring the labor issues! Sounds like a fancy term for just more tech and less humans involved, doesn’t it?