Enhance the value of the shrimp industry towards export

Successful production of cold-resistant shrimp

Quang Ninh province has a typical climate of the northern mountainous region with clearly different seasons and very low temperatures in winter. This feature makes winter shrimp farming very difficult because, at the temperature threshold of 20 degrees Celsius, shrimp are slow to grow, eat less, and reduce resistance. With a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius or less, shrimp can stop eating completely, become exhausted and die due to hunger and cold. Therefore, winter shrimp farming always carries many potential risks and losses. 

To promote its strengths in shrimp farming, Quang Ninh province pays special attention to producing breeds to meet farming needs. Viet Uc - Quang Ninh Co., Ltd. is a pioneer in investing in the project of a high-tech shrimp farming complex in the Dam Ha district, along with international standard laboratories. This is to meet the strict requirements of producing high-quality seed.

According to the representative of Viet Uc Co., Ltd. - Quang Ninh, the company's shrimp seeds from the beginning have focused on growth, survival rate, resistance, and fertility... by production needs and local soil and climate characteristics.

In particular, the ability to adapt well to the conditions of "low temperature and low salinity" is always interesting in research to further improve. Specifically, through researching, breeding, and selecting broodstocks (shrimp seed) that keep the traits well adapted to the cold climate, suitable to the winter weather of the North. 

Through rigorous research and testing, in 2021, the Company will begin to market a new shrimp variety, VUS LEADER 21, which has a 10% higher growth rate and stronger resistance to suit environmental conditions. At the same time, another shrimp breed that excels in cold resistance and is suitable for farming in the cold winter climate in Quang Ninh has been tested since November 2021 and released to the market at the end of 2022. 

Specifically, through the selection process many times, Vietnam - Australia Co., Ltd. Quang Ninh has in turn found the broodstock individuals carrying the dominant gene for cold tolerance, take this genetic code for breeding purposes, then go through the process of selecting generation after generation. The ultimate goal is to perfect the production process of the most cold-resistant shrimp breed, ensuring growth and development in winter. 

Unlike regular shrimp seeds, cold-resistant shrimp seeds require adaptation to the environment of air, water, temperature, salinity, and pH... These are characteristic of the cold and long winter in Quang Ninh in particular and in the northern provinces in general.

With effective production solutions in the winter season, shrimp farming households in the province have maintained effective operations throughout the year instead of having to take a "winter break", saving a part of investment cost. The labour source and year-round income for the farm will also be guaranteed to be stable, improving the output and value of the province's shrimp industry. 

From proactively applying technology to control the heat, regulating the appropriate water supply, and using cold-resistant shrimp, more and more people are raising shrimp in the winter. Currently, the winter shrimp farming area of Quang Ninh province is 400 hectares, an increase of 300% compared to 2021-2022. Shrimp production in the winter season of 2022-2023 reached 7,200 tons, an increase of 500% compared to 2021-2022. 

The application of science and technology, proactively overcoming seasonality in aquaculture, and timely adaptation to climate change of shrimp farmers in the area. Thereby, meeting the needs of the market, serving the processing industry, and gradually moving towards export. This is an important foundation to enhance product value, promote growth in the entire industry, and contribute to sustainable agricultural development. 

Enhance the value of the shrimp industry

Quang Ninh is one of 28 provinces and cities across the country that have the sea, with over 2,000 large and small islands and, a 250km long coastline. There are 40,000 ha of tidal flats and over 20,000 ha of straits, bays and diverse and rich marine biological resources. 

This helps Quang Ninh have strengths in shrimp production and marine farming, with a large farming area. The consumption market for shrimp and marine aquaculture products in Quang Ninh is quite favourable when there are trade border gates with China, seaports, and ASEAN gateways... 

Currently, Quang Ninh province has a logistics service that is a transit point for seafood exports of the province in particular as well as other localities nationwide, exporting to the Chinese market by both land, sea and air. With a population of about 1.4 billion people, the potential Chinese market accounts for over 90% of the total seafood export turnover of Quang Ninh province. 

As of 2022, the total shrimp farming area will reach 7,500 ha (including whiteleg and black tiger shrimp), in which the industrial shrimp farming area reached 4,700 ha, and the output reached more than 23 thousand tons; Shrimp farming productivity reached an average of 3.1 tons/ha, an increase of 1.8 tons/ha compared to 2013. However, the average productivity in industrial shrimp farming in Quang Ninh is in the low group compared to key northern shrimp provinces. 

In addition, the province's shrimp farming industry is also facing many difficulties due to climate change and; the environmental impact of industrialization and urbanization; China's border trade policy on importing farmed shrimp has many changes; the extensive farming area is still quite large. 

In particular, the investment in technical infrastructure in farming areas is still modest, and the science and technology content in each shrimp farming model is not large. The potential area for development has not been fully exploited.

According to experts, Quang Ninh's shrimp and marine farming can increase its economic value exponentially if it innovates in production organization and management. That is why in recent years, Quang Ninh province has devoted a lot of resources to developing aquaculture, especially industrial shrimp farming. Notably, the application of high technology and advanced techniques gradually brings economic efficiency and elevates the Quang Ninh shrimp industry.

Over the past time, Quang Ninh province has developed a sustainable aquaculture development strategy with development orientations to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The goal is to become a centre for farming, processing and exporting seafood in the North, focusing on quickly developing key farming subjects, high-tech shrimp farming and new technology.

In addition, enhancing investment attraction in fisheries, prioritizing public-private partnership models, and chain production models. Priority is given to the processing stage, with the highest support for industrial clusters containing seafood processing facilities, in particular, converting unsustainable farming materials to environmentally friendly materials.

Mr. Ngo Hung Dung, Director of Tan An Seafood Joint Stock Company, said that the unit is gradually converting and applying modern new technology and science to incorporate into the aquaculture process. As a result, from a shrimp farming model with productivity of only 20 tons/ha to now reaching 140 tons/ha, bringing in billions of income each year.

Director of Quang Ninh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Minh Son said that Quang Ninh aims to increase aquaculture area, and reduce fishing, especially focusing on industrial farming, intensive farming, super-intensive farming, and high-tech farming.

“We continue to advise the province to develop planning, create stable land and water surface funds to attract businesses and farmers to invest in the production of aquatic breeds, build nurseries in chain links, ensure the breed has a clear origin and is adapted to environmental conditions," Mr Son emphasized.

By 2022, the total shrimp farming area of Quang Ninh province will reach 7,000 hectares (including white leg shrimp and black tiger shrimp), in which the industrial shrimp farming area will reach 4,700 ha, and the output will reach more than 23 thousand tons; Shrimp farming productivity reached an average of 3.1 tons/ha, an increase of 1.8 tons/ha compared to 2013.

It can be affirmed that in the period of 2013-2022, with the implementation of Resolution 13, Quang Ninh shrimp farming has made significant progress. Shrimp farming area in the province in 2022 will decrease by 18.2% compared to 2013. However, the area converted from extensive farming to industrial farming has increased markedly, so that shrimp production in 2022 has increased by 246% compared to 2013.