Efforts to strengthen seafood supply chain, coastal livelihoods in Vietnam

Australia is partnering with Vietnam on two key fisheries initiatives in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, aimed at sustaining the grouper supply chain and enhancing the livelihoods of sea cucumber farmers.

Vietnamese researchers have dedicated several years to developing sustainable food security in the fisheries sector.

   Safe formulated feed for groupers

The 'Addressing key technical bottlenecks in the grouper supply chain in Vietnam and Australia' project brought together key partners including James Cook University (Australia) and Vietnam's three Research Institutes for Aquaculture No. 1, 2, and 3.

This project focuses on nutrition research and the use of formulated feed in hybrid grouper farming, while also addressing key bottlenecks in the supply of high-quality eggs, larvae, and juveniles--critical for supporting the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises in both Vietnam and Australia.

"One of the bottlenecks in the grouper supply chain is the quality of feed for hybrid groupers," Dr. Truong Quoc Thai, the project coordinator and head of the Mariculture Research and Development Center in Nha Trang City, located in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, under the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 3, told reporters on Wednesday during the ongoing media tour held by the Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The institute and other partners concentrate on the research of the formulated feed for hybrid groupers at each stage of their 1012 month grow-out cycle.

Safe and nutritional feed will help shorten the grow-out period, ensure the quality of market-size groupers, and sustain the supply chain, he said.

Most farming households are using trash fish to feed groupers, posing a high risk of pollution and suboptimal health outcomes.

The widespread adoption of formulated feed is not only a key driver of growth, but also a strong safeguard against disease risks, unlocking breakthrough potential for the entire industry.

"We appreciate the Australian government's support for the fisheries sector in Vietnam, especially in grouper mariculture, and look forward to continued financial assistance for ongoing research and training," Dr. Thai said.

"Through this project, which lasts from 2024 until 2027, we aim to develop a process for producing high-quality fingerlings from larvae, popularize the use of formulated feed, then provide training and technology transfer to local farmers to help increase their income."

   Unique sea cucumber mariculture model

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy, deputy director of the National Center for Marine Breeding in Central under the Research Institute for Aquaculture. No. 3, has devoted over 20 years to advancing sea cucumber farming in Vietnam, with an effort to support species conservation and enhance local livelihoods in the central region.

Dr. Duy, some Vietnamese researchers and the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia) participated in the 'Increasing technical skills supporting community-based sea cucumber production in Vietnam' project to fuel his long-term goal.

Though this project wrapped up in 2024 after nearly six years of its operation, he is still working to develop the sea cucumber mariculture.

Sea cucumber populations have declined significantly in many tropical regions due to overfishing and weak management, so this has severely affected the incomes of coastal communities.

Meanwhile, demand for dried sea cucumbers, especially in China and Southeast Asian markets, has surged, with prices reaching US$200-400 per kilogram.

The project was designed to strengthen the capacity for sea cucumber production while contributing to the preservation of endangered species, Dr. Duy said.

He also shared some positive results achieved through the project, highlighting the success of the integrated farming model.

The project successfully developed a co-culture model combining sea cucumbers with Babylonia snails or sea grapes.

This approach not only provides an additional source of income, but also improves water quality by reducing waste, thereby minimizing environmental impact.

Farmers can now adopt co-culture techniques to boost productivity and enhance the overall value of sea cucumber aquaculture.

Also, the project successfully linked sea cucumber farmers with processing companies, making farmers more secure in investing in low-cost sea cucumber production while benefiting from the environmental advantages of integrated farming.

A sustainable sea cucumber value chain is now beginning to take shape in Vietnam, ensuring stable output and increased income, especially for smallholders.

Funded by the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR), the Australian government's specialist agricultural research for development agency, the two typical projects contribute to strengthening the ACIAR Fisheries Research Partnership in Vietnam.

Tieu Bac / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/05/09-18:33)