Advancing sustainable intensive shrimp farming
As the Lunar New Year celebrations come to an end, shrimp farmers in Cai Nuoc District are returning to work with renewed optimism for the year ahead. Their primary focus for 2025 is on intensive shrimp farming (STC) using biological products, aiming to enhance quality, obtain ASC certification, and increase economic value while ensuring long-term sustainability.
Cai Nuoc District boasts over 30,000 hectares of aquaculture, with 2,000 hectares dedicated to intensive and STC shrimp farming. With an average yield of nearly 50 tons per hectare per cycle, significantly higher than improved extensive or two-stage extensive farming, STC has become a crucial economic pillar for the region.
To promote the sustainable development of STC shrimp farming, farmers like Bui Chi Thuong from Tan Hoa Hamlet, Thanh Phu Commune, are shifting toward more environmentally friendly practices. Many have replaced chemical treatments with biological products, which improve shrimp quality, fetch higher prices, and create a healthier farming environment.
On his 6,000-square-meter farm, Thuong dedicates only half of his space to shrimp ponds, using the rest for sedimentation and water treatment reservoirs. Instead of relying on chemicals, he has developed and implemented his own biological treatments, yielding impressive results. In 2024 alone, his farm produced over 40 tons of STC shrimp. Now, with a new batch 20 days into the farming cycle, he remains optimistic. His goal for 2025 is to refine his use of biological treatments, reduce costs, boost productivity, and produce high-quality shrimp that can command premium prices.
The High-Yield Shrimp Farming Cooperative in Tan Hung Commune has successfully maintained BAP Group certification for its STC shrimp over the years. This certification, issued by the Global Aquaculture Alliance, ensures food safety, traceability, and environmental responsibility, key factors for export market access.
However, Huynh Xuan Dien, Chairman of the Cooperative’s Board of Directors, pointed out that while BAP Group certification allows for market entry, it only brings a 2,000 VND/kg premium from processing companies. In contrast, ASC-certified shrimp can be exported to a wider range of markets, with buyers offering up to 4,000 VND/kg in additional value. “In 2025, we plan to collaborate with seafood buyers to transition from BAP Group certification to ASC, ensuring greater benefits for our members, enhancing economic efficiency, and strengthening our market competitiveness,” Dien shared.
The shift in perspective among STC shrimp farmers in Cai Nuoc District is evident in 2025. They are increasingly focused on producing high-quality shrimp, protecting the environment, and working towards ASC certification.
Tran Hoang Dao, Head of the District’s Agriculture and Rural Development Office, highlighted local efforts to expand sustainable STC farming. “We are committed to promoting environmentally friendly shrimp farming by integrating recirculating technology to eliminate wastewater discharge. This approach will not only protect farming environments but also ensure the production of high-quality shrimp that meet export standards, increase economic value, and contribute to the long-term success of STC shrimp farming.”
VFM
