UK researchers to invest US$4.5M in developing digital tool for Vietnam’s aquaculture
The initiative in the Mekong Delta will use satellite data and water quality sensors to address environmental challenges.
UK – The University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture has launched a US$4.5 million project to create a digital tool designed to improve aquaculture sustainability in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
The AquaSoS project, involving experts from the university’s Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, will use satellite imagery, water quality sensors, and laboratory analysis to tackle key issues such as pollution, climate change, and disease outbreaks.
This tool is expected to assist scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders by providing critical insights into the ecosystem, allowing them to balance seafood production with environmental conservation.
Professor Simon MacKenzie stated that the Mekong Delta was chosen for this project due to its large-scale multi-species aquaculture and rising cases of infectious diseases affecting production.
He explained that diseases continue to pose a major risk to sustainable aquaculture in Asia and worldwide, adding that the digital tool will offer real-time data to support better disease control.
The project is part of a larger US$15.4 million initiative by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) aimed at strengthening sustainable seafood production in Southeast Asia.
These efforts are focused on addressing climate change, food security, and the resilience of coastal communities to ensure long-term seafood production.
Environmental and Economic Challenges
MacKenzie pointed out that rivers, seas, and deltas are increasingly affected by rising temperatures, salinity changes, pollution, and shifts in sediment flow due to environmental factors.
He warned that these disruptions threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and access to food and water, particularly in countries such as Vietnam, where aquaculture plays a vital role in the economy.
The project is being funded through the UK Government’s International Science Partnership Fund under its Official Development Assistance budget, with support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
British Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, highlighted the University of Stirling’s long-standing research efforts in the region, stating that its work has contributed to the livelihoods of fishing communities in the Mekong Delta.
He noted that ongoing research is also targeting disease outbreaks in pangasius farming and tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to help safeguard the future of aquaculture in the region.
Vietnam’s Seafood Industry in 2023
In 2023, Vietnam produced approximately 9.31 million metric tons of seafood, with farmed production increasing by 4.2% while the volume from wild catches declined by 0.5%.
The country’s main seafood products include fish, shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, and mollusks.
Aquaculture remained a key component of the sector, with fish production reaching around 3.63 million metric tons from farming and 2.98 million metric tons from catching.
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