Ca Mau sets sights on 1,000ha of clean shrimp farming
Ca Mau province is accelerating efforts to expand clean shrimp farming, targeting 1,000 hectares under production in the coming years, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Van Su said at a review conference on August 17.
The pilot initiative, launched in 2023, introduced a super-intensive, three-phase whiteleg shrimp farming model using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with minimal water exchange and strict biosecurity. The project was officially recognized as “excellent” by provincial authorities in October 2024.
Building on those results, the Department of Science and Technology has kicked off a new 24-month program (January 2025–December 2026) to expand the RAS-based model across 12 communes, including Ly Van Lam, Dam Doi, Cai Nuoc, and Nam Can. To date, more than 111 hectares have registered to participate, with 47 hectares already in active production by 10 farming households.
Trials on 28 hectares have yielded promising results: an average stocking density of 180 shrimp per square meter, culture time of 85 days, survival rates of 72% (peaking at 76%), and harvest sizes averaging 30 shrimp per kilogram. Yields reached 35.3 tons per hectare per crop, with profit margins topping 60%. Specialists at the conference noted the model’s ease of adoption, high efficiency, and environmental benefits, as no wastewater is discharged. The approach also offers potential synergies such as tilapia farming for export and seaweed cultivation for processing.
“These results confirm the model as a fast-developing, highly effective approach that fits well with Ca Mau’s sustainable shrimp development strategy,” Su said, urging local agencies to scale up adoption through outreach and integration with existing programs.
“Ca Mau aims to soon reach 1,000 hectares of clean shrimp farming, creating a breakthrough for the province’s key shrimp industry and contributing to the sustainable growth of Vietnam’s seafood sector,” he added.
VFM
