Phu Yen is a Central South coastal province of Vietnam with long coastline of 190 km. With large and diverse wetlands the province possesses advantages for aquaculture development, which has been a major income earner for Phu Yen.
Statistics in 2005 showed that total area of aquaculture is 2,300 hectare at output volume of more than 3,000 tons valued at VND 312 billion, of which brackish water shrimp accounted for more than 1,800 tonnes over 1,759 hectares of land. However, drastically growing aquaculture has led to reduction and degradation of land, environmental quality and biodiversity of the various ecosystems. Diverse but sensitive wetlands such as the estuaries of Da Nong, Da Rang and islets of Cu Mong, Xuan Dai, O Loan and coastal flats have been facing degraded coastal environment, increased sedimentation, and reduced aquatic resources and land area. Sea grass beds that are home to many aquatic species have been reduced in area (by 20% in 2003 as compared to 1997) due to inappropriate shrimp farming ponds construction and use of fishing tools.
In Phu Yen, area used for shrimp farming is 2,054 hectares accounting for 67% land area available for shrimp farming and was dramatically increasing during 1991-2006. However, increased area for shrimp farming has necessarily meant increased production volume and profit. In the same two years, there are respectively 80% and 40% of the households involved suffered a loss. Repeated shrimp epidemics and lack of fund has rendered the farms underused and/or abandoned. As a result, it is a challenge for the Government and relevant stakeholders to find the way ahead for shrimp farming in Phu Yen.
Phase 1 of the Project has developed 02 models for bio-treatment of waste water from shrimp farming, using tilapia and seaweed to absorb redundant nutrients to reduce negative impacts on the surrounding environment and vice versa. The project has provided evidence about the role of tilapia and seaweed as shrimp farming waste cleaners. The two years of project implementation showed positive potential for application of waste water treatment models due to both economic and environmental benefits. The project has also helped raise the local people?s and government?s awareness and understanding about environmental issues in shrimp farming.
This project will continue to address the following issues:
- Refining the process of bio-treatment of waste water from aquaculture: continue to experiment more fish/crab/algae species to add to the shrimp farm to absorb nutrients and waste water
- Sampling for research purpose needs more time to take into account other environmental parameters fluctuations apart from pond water in order to confirm environmental benefits brought about by these models.
- Publish training guidelines on shrimp farming waste water bio-treatment
- Expand the area for demonstration: Phu Yen land area devoted to shrimp farming is approximately 2,038 hectares but in Phase 1 the project demonstrated on area of 5.5 ha, which is too small with only 8 households participating. In order to replicate the project results, it is necessary to extend the scale of demonstration models as well as number of participating households.
- Further enhance awareness and know-how of the farmers in protecting the environment
- Liaise with the local government to manage and monitor the implementation of the various measures in relation to shrimp production.
Major content of Phase 2
Based on the result of Phase 1, Phase 2 will continue to experiment bio-treatment of waste water from shrimp farms by developing demonstration models at Dong Hoa and Song Cau districts, which are central to the provincial shrimp production, with a focus on diversification of cultured species. Phase 2 will also stress the need to strengthen know-how of the farmers by effecting regulated aquaculture community group. It is expected that the project will end up with full process for bio-treatment of wastewater from aquaculture, which will then be recommended to the Government extension department so as to replicate and multiply the project results and encourage sustainable aquaculture. The project will also document lessons learnt and technical guidelines for distribution to other provinces. On basis of lessons learnt from the implementation of the project and of Phu Yen aquaculture zoning to 2020, recommendations could be made to to the local governments on relevant issues related to detailed zoning of aquaculture, species to be selected and irrigation system to address water pollution problems in aquaculture.
Long-term objectives of the project
To contribute to protect the coastal environment of Phu Yen via reducing and preventing pollution resulted from aquaculture activities
Immediate objectives
Objective 1:
To enhance awareness and strengthen technical know-how on sustainable aquaculture for the project beneficiary communities
Output 1.1
Advocacy and training activities are successfully organized
Objective 2:
Develop and refine models for sustainable aquaculture managed by the community on the basis of succeeding the project Phase 1 results
Output 2.1. Two demonstration models are developed in the two districts, at scale of 10-5 hectares with 20 participating households/model.
Output 2.2: The model is designed at suitable sites
Output 2.2
Management capacity of the farmers? community is enhanced
Objective 3:
Review, evaluate and document lessons learnt and develop a technical guidelines on sustainable aquaculture so as to replicate the models in other municipalities.
Output 3.1:
The demonstration models are monitored and evaluated.
Major activities
- Produce simple technical guidelines on sustainable aquaculture for use by community members? use (covering contents such as how to treat wastewater, prevent diseases and seed selection)
- Integrate sustainable aquaculture into extension activities
- Organize campaigns such as coast cleaning campaigns on suitable days
- Develop demonstration models (selecting sites, identify suitable species for farming for each area and species used for waste water treatment
- Provide training on the role of coastal environment and sustainable aquaculture techniques, management of aquaculture pond environments
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- Establish community aquaculture management groups and develop associated rules/regulations
- Recommend to the Government so that the group members receive technical support and access to loan
- Develop and disseminate technical guidelines
- Develop and recommend to the relevant government agencies application of: process for waste water bio-treatment; regulations on aquaculture community management; supportive policies for participating households to sustainable aquaculture activities; species selection and water drainage system for the area