Ca Mau: 1,860 hectares of shrimp-mangrove farms receive ASC certification
Earning ASC certification ensures responsibly farmed seafood, minimizing environmental and ecological harm while meeting the standards of international shrimp import markets.
On November 21, Minh Phu Certified Shrimp Social Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Tan An Tay Commune, Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province, held a conference to review the implementation of shrimp-mangrove farming and announced the attainment of Group ASC certification.
Since October 2023, Minh Phu Certified Shrimp Social Co., Ltd. has applied for Group ASC certification, an internationally recognized standard for sustainable aquaculture. Within a year, 375 households managing a combined 1,860 hectares of shrimp-mangrove farms were certified by Bureau Veritas (BV). The certification is valid for three years, with annual assessments required.
According to the ASC organization’s database, this is the first and largest Group ASC-certified shrimp-mangrove farming model in Vietnam.
In 2023, payments for forest environmental services and additional benefits from shrimp-mangrove projects amounted to over VND 3.8 billion, with projections exceeding VND 4 billion for 2024.
Vo Minh Ho, Vice Chairman of the Tan An Tay Commune People’s Committee, stated that the project has helped raise public awareness about forest conservation and environmental protection. Farmers have embraced sustainable farming practices, adopted systematic production processes, and enhanced biodiversity preservation. They have also created value chains that link production to consumption while integrating the farming of other aquatic species to increase income.
Lam Thai Xuyen, Director of Minh Phu Certified Shrimp Social Co., Ltd., highlighted that ASC certification ensures seafood farming adheres to strict environmental, ecological, and labor standards, meeting the requirements of global shrimp markets.
The initiative has also promoted sustainable shrimp farming practices, clean production processes, complete traceability, and eco-tourism, further enhancing the global reputation of Ca Mau shrimp.
Tran Phuong Dai, Bureau Veritas Vietnam’s Business Director, praised the significant efforts of social enterprises, local authorities, and farmers in achieving international certification. However, he noted the substantial costs involved in developing certified areas and stressed the importance of continued support to sustain and expand these models.
Over the past 11 years, Minh Phu Certified Shrimp Social Co., Ltd. has developed internationally certified shrimp farming zones across communes like Vien An Dong, Vien An, Tam Giang Tay, Tan An, Rach Goc Town, and Tan An Tay in Ngoc Hien District.
These certified areas cover nearly 11,500 hectares, involving over 2,370 households under the management of the Dat Mui Forest Management Board, Kien Vang, and Ngoc Hien Forestry Company.
Since launching its certification efforts in May 2013 in Vien An Dong Commune, the company has successfully maintained and expanded 12 internationally certified shrimp farming zones across Ca Mau and Kien Giang Provinces.
Building on the success of shrimp-mangrove farming in Ngoc Hien, Minh Phu has diversified its initiatives, introducing shrimp-rice farming, industrial shrimp farming, and plans for improved extensive shrimp farming in Cai Nuoc and Phu Tan districts.
During the event, Bureau Veritas awarded the Group ASC certification to the Tan An Tay Commune People’s Committee. The commune also recognized two organizations and ten individuals for their exceptional contributions to the ASC-certified shrimp farming initiative from 2023 to 2025.
VFM
