Development of leading centres for mud crab aquaculture in Vietnam

  • Vietnam

ENTRY DATE: 09.03.2012 | LAST UPDATE: 09.03.2012

SCALE:

  • Sub-national Level

TARGET AREA:

  • Rural

BEST PRACTICE IN:

  • Capacity Building
  • Project Implementation
  • Research and Development

KEY SECTOR:

  • Food Security

FUNDING AMOUNT:

  • USD 1,000,001 - USD 5,000,000

Description of Intervention

Replication of mud crab hatchery technology to sustain and expand mud crab farming practiced throughout the coastal areas of Vietnam

Problems to be Addressed

Until recently, all crab aquaculture in Vietnam relied on crab seed collected from the wild to stock farm ponds. However, it has been noted that further expansion of mud crab aquaculture will need an alternative source of supply, as the maximum sustainable yield from wild stocks has been reached or even exceeded in some locations. In response, the Government of Vietnam has expressed interest in the mud crab hatchery technology developed by ACIAR. It has also identified mud crab aquaculture as a priority industry for economic development.

Aims

Facilitate the timely transfer of the mud crab hatchery technology and improved mud crab farming methods from a previous project by developing ‘lead centers for crab aquaculture’ at key institutions undertaking nationally funded mud crab research programmes in Vietnam

Objectives

• To upgrade hatchery facilities and staff capability at nominated lead centers in Vietnam;
• To adapt and transfer technology to local conditions and species;
• To strengthen extension capability and farmer support services; and
• To produce a hatchery manual for Scylla species.

How it fits into the EbA concept

Mud crabs can withstand salinity fluctuations and low oxygen levels, and are tolerant of some of the diseases that can devastate cultured shrimp. Mud crab farming also enables polyculture systems in which two or more aquatic species are raised together, allowing farmers to diversify their income sources. Hence, under the possible future scenario of sea-level rise in coastal areas of Vietnam, mud crab farming seems to be one of the adaptation options that enable farmers to increase their resilience to sea-level rise. The mud crab hatchery is an alternative method of supplying mud crab seeds to mud crab farmers given that the maximum sustainable yield of seeds from wild stocks has been reached or even exceeded in some locations. The hatchery is expected to sustain the saline water-resistant mud crab aquaculture.