Ca Mau shrimp set for global exports
The "Shrimp-Rice Project in Bien Bach Dong Commune," located in Ca Mau province, has received its second Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification for shrimp products in the shrimp-rice farming area of Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province.
On September 5th, Bureau Veritas in Vietnam awarded the BAP certification to Minh Phu Social Shrimp Certification Co., Ltd., which has collaborated with local farmers on the “Shrimp-Rice Project in Bien Bach Dong Commune” in Thoi Binh district. This is the second international certification (following ASC) for the shrimp-rice farming area in Thoi Binh and the first BAP certification for such a farming area in Vietnam.
A total of 231 households took part in the shrimp farming initiative, with more than 696 hectares/296 ponds across six hamlets of Bien Bach Dong commune. Local farmers received support from experts from Minh Phu Social Shrimp Certification Co., Ltd. and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in Vietnam.
With the BAP certification in hand, Ca Mau shrimp—and Vietnamese shrimp more broadly—are now positioned to access export markets across the globe. “Numerous standards have been implemented in Vietnam’s aquaculture, including SQF, GlobalGAP, ASC, BAP, Naturland, AquaGAP, VietGAP… However, the most widely applied standards for exported shrimp today are ASC, GlobalGAP, and BAP,” noted a representative from GIZ in Vietnam.
Earlier, on October 27, 2022, the Marine Conservation and Community Development Center (MCD) and the People’s Committee of Thoi Binh district, along with relevant partners, held a conference to review and share the ASC-certified black tiger shrimp-rice model in Tri Luc commune.
The ASC certification is an international endorsement of responsible aquaculture practices, which minimize environmental, ecological, and community impacts while ensuring compliance with labor standards. This model was the first in Vietnam to receive ASC certification.
Nguyen Hoang Bao, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thoi Binh district, commented, “In recent years, Thoi Binh has actively promoted the restructuring of its agricultural sector toward organic and clean farming. The district has established two standout shrimp-rice models: the integrated black tiger shrimp-rice model and the integrated green-clawed shrimp-rice model, both well-suited to climate change adaptation.”
Bao also highlighted that Tri Luc commune holds significant potential for developing the shrimp-rice model. The local government has focused on implementing clean and organic rice models, as well as shrimp farming under the VietGAP standard, boosting the value of farmers’ agricultural products and raising their incomes. The district has invited companies and enterprises to participate in the shrimp-rice value chain at the local level.
ASC certification brings the greatest benefit by addressing sustainable shrimp farming for small-scale operations, reducing negative environmental impacts, and safeguarding social welfare. It also encourages farmers and businesses to adopt sustainable shrimp farming practices, with the ultimate goal of achieving balanced development across four pillars: environmental, social, animal welfare, and food safety.
This provides a strong foundation to promote the Ca Mau shrimp brand, particularly from Thoi Binh district, in international markets, including high-demand regions like Europe.
VFM
