Expanding Shrimp Aquaculture on Sandy Land in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities

The report examines the conversion of unproductive sandy land in central Vietnam into shrimp aquaculture zones. While the practice offers significant poverty alleviation and economic growth opportunities, it faces critical challenges regarding groundwater depletion, unregulated wastewater discharge, and the need for integrated planning with afforestation to prevent sand movement.

• Sandy land aquaculture in central Vietnam is primarily focused on tiger shrimp (P.monodon) and utilizes a semi-intensive model where ponds are constructed on sandy soil and lined with waterproof materials to prevent leakage.
• There is significant geographic potential for this practice in central Vietnam, with approximately 100,000 ha of sandy land total, of which roughly 15,000 ha are suitable for shrimp cultivation across provinces including Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Ninh Thuan, and Thua Thien Hue.
• Ninh Thuan province has emerged as a leader in this sector, with productivity reaching between 3 and 6 tonnes/ha/crop on average, and maximum yields reaching 10 tonnes/ha.
• The practice provides several socio-economic advantages, including the utilization of unproductive land, creation of local jobs, and higher productivity than conventional soil-based aquaculture because cycles can be repeated two to three times per year.
• A critical environmental risk is the overexploitation of groundwater for salinity adjustment and water supplementation, which can lead to land subsidence and increased saltwater intrusion inland.
• Current waste management is largely inadequate, with wastewater often discharged directly into the sea or surrounding land without treatment, risking groundwater contamination and the spread of shrimp diseases.
• To mitigate environmental degradation and protect infrastructure from sand storms and strong winds, the report recommends combining aquaculture with the reforestation of coastal prevention woods, specifically Casuarina trees.
• Vietnam's shrimp exports are heavily dependent on the U.S., Japan, and EU markets, but the country faces 'green barriers' and strict food safety standards (such as HACCP) regarding antibiotic residues.
• The report argues that shifting from wetland/forest aquaculture to sandy land aquaculture can help Vietnam overcome international trade barriers by reducing the devastation of mangroves and improving environmental sustainability.
• The government is urged to provide a master plan for aquaculture development and financial support for infrastructure, including low-interest or mortgage-free loans of up to VND 50 million for poor coastal farmers.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2003). Expanding Shrimp Aquaculture on Sandy Land in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_shrimp_vietnam.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Expanding Shrimp Aquaculture on Sandy Land in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities. 2003. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_shrimp_vietnam.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Expanding Shrimp Aquaculture on Sandy Land in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities |date=2003 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_shrimp_vietnam.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2003expanding, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Expanding Shrimp Aquaculture on Sandy Land in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2003}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_shrimp_vietnam.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }