Shrimp larvae quantity and quality: Dependent on imported parent shrimp

Positive signals from domestic broodstock shrimp production and supply

In 2024, Vietnam's brackish water shrimp industry has surpassed its planned targets, with the total farming area reaching nearly 750.000 hectares, which represents an increase of 1.7% compared to 2023. Among this, the area dedicated to farming black tiger shrimp accounts for nearly 629.000 hectares, showing a 1.1% growth, while the area for farming white-leg shrimp has reached 121.000 hectares, reflecting a significant 5% increase.

As for the shrimp production, the total output from brackish water shrimp farming has exceeded 1.29 million tons, marking a robust growth of 15.3% compared to the previous year. Of this total, black tiger shrimp production reached nearly 339.000 tons, and white-leg shrimp production amounted to almost 952.000 tons.

Mr. Ngo Tien Chuong, Project Manager of the German International Cooperation (GIZ), stated: "Vietnam is one of the leading countries in shrimp production and export globally. However, the shrimp industry still depends on both inputs – broodstock shrimp – and outputs – the market".

According to the report from the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the country currently has a total of 1.943 facilities involved in the production and nursing of brackish water shrimp larvae. Among these, 1.214 facilities are dedicated to shrimp breeding, and 204 are specialized in nursing, all of which are required to obtain certification. Additionally, 525 of these nursing facilities are subject to quality management oversight.

The total output of shrimp larvae production and nursing has reached 159 billion individuals. Specifically, 109.8 billion of these are white-leg shrimp, while 49.2 billion are black tiger shrimp.

The main shrimp breeding provinces in Vietnam, including Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau, account for approximately 90% of the total production facilities and 60% of the total breeding output across the country.

According to the report from the Directorate of Fisheries - Fisheries Surveillance, in 2024, Vietnam was able to proactively supply approximately 85.404 broodstock shrimp domestically. Of this, around 30.000 black tiger shrimp broodstock were sourced from the wild. The Vietnam-Australia Group produced 33.404 white-leg shrimp broodstock, which were exclusively supplied for the company’s own shrimp breeding needs. Meanwhile, Moana Ninh Thuan Co., Ltd. produced 22.000 black tiger shrimp broodstock, of which 610 were exported.

Enterprises invest in enhancing quality

In response to the challenges surrounding the quality of shrimp larvae and the increasingly demanding requirements of the market, numerous domestic shrimp farming companies, including those with foreign direct investment (FDI), have made bold investments in advanced technology to improve both the productivity and the quality of their shrimp larvae.

Mr. Ming Hsien Chen, Deputy General Director of Thang Long Biotechnology Co., Ltd. - Ninh Thuan Branch, explained that Thang Long is a fully foreign-invested enterprise, specializing in the production and supply of aquaculture feed, shrimp and fish broodstock, biological products, and technical services to support farming models.

In 2013, Thang Long established its Ninh Thuan Branch, focusing on the production of white-leg shrimp and black tiger shrimp broodstock. The Thang Long hatchery is designed and operated according to modern technical standards, equipped with an advanced water treatment system, and exclusively uses disease-free (SPF) imported broodstock and highly nutritious feed.

Trại giống Thăng Long là một trong số ít trại giống hiếm hoi tại Việt Nam đạt tiêu chuẩn an toàn sinh học cao nhất và được các cơ quan Nhà nước Việt Nam, các tổ chức chứng nhận thủy sản quốc tế chứng nhận và cấp giấy chứng nhận an toàn dịch bệnh, tiêu chuẩn GlobalGAP, BAP…

"Over the course of the past 12 years, Thang Long’s shrimp larvae have been increasingly recognized and trusted by farmers for their quality and numerous outstanding characteristics. As a result, the company has been able to expand its operations by opening two additional hatcheries, bringing the total to three hatcheries in Ninh Thuan. With a production capacity of up to 5 billion shrimp larvae per year, Thang Long has successfully solidified its position in the shrimp larvae market in Vietnam, gaining a strong foothold in the industry", Mr. Chen added.

It is reported that in 2024, Thang Long was able to supply the market with a total of 4 billion shrimp larvae, which includes 3.7 billion white-leg shrimp and 300 million black tiger shrimp larvae. The company’s target for 2025 is to produce and supply 5 billion larvae, with 4.5 billion white-leg shrimp and 500 million black tiger shrimp larvae.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, Director of Newway Aquaculture Investment Co., Ltd. (Ninh Thuan), mentioned that the company is currently applying the most advanced and modern technology available, ensuring strict quality control from the initial stages to the final output.

Initially, seawater is pumped directly from the ocean and undergoes a thorough filtration process through an advanced and meticulous filtering system before it is introduced into the shrimp farming environment. The broodstock for white-leg shrimp are 100% imported from Shrimp Improvement Systems (SIS) in the United States. These broodstock consist of two primary strains: the Super Large Superior strain, known for its exceptional size, and the Regular strain, which is recognized for its rapid growth rate.

"Before being released into the market, the shrimp are monitored extremely closely and subjected to rigorous checks to ensure that they meet the highest standards of quality. We guarantee that 100% of the shrimp larvae sold are healthy, disease-free, and suitable for farming", Mr. Son stated.

Dependence from the beginning

According to a report from the Directorate of Fisheries, in 2024, Vietnam imported approximately 124.000 white-leg shrimp broodstock, 692 black tiger shrimp broodstock, 16.540 white-leg shrimp larvae, and 66.000 black tiger shrimp larvae to meet the needs of its shrimp breeding industry.

At present, the country remains highly dependent on imports for the majority of white-leg shrimp broodstock, with 78.8% of this supply coming from abroad. In contrast, black tiger shrimp broodstock are mainly harvested from the wild, accounting for 56.9% of the total supply. This reliance on external sources results in an unstable supply and presents significant risks in terms of maintaining consistent quality. Research and breeding efforts to develop domestic shrimp broodstock remain limited.

Shrimp broodstock plays a crucial role in the shrimp larvae production chain, as it directly influences the quality of the larvae and the overall effectiveness of farming. Healthy broodstock with a clear origin and careful selection are essential for producing larvae that are resilient, grow well, and are less prone to diseases. The inability to secure a stable and self-sufficient supply of broodstock remains a significant challenge for Vietnam's shrimp industry.

Mr. Ngo Tien Chuong, Project Manager of the German International Cooperation (GIZ), commented that for more than 10 years, shrimp breeding companies in Vietnam have been heavily reliant on imported broodstock. The primary reason for this dependency is that investing in the technology required for domestic broodstock domestication demands a large amount of capital. In contrast, importing a moderate quantity of broodstock to meet production needs allows businesses to recover their investments more quickly.

However, in recent times, some large enterprises, notably the Viet-Uc Group, have started modernizing and applying advanced technologies in their production processes. As a result, they are gradually becoming more self-reliant in breeding shrimp broodstock domestically.

"In contrast, for smaller enterprises, financial barriers remain a significant challenge, which limits their ability to invest in modern technologies. This reflects the reality that financial support policies for the private sector in the shrimp breeding industry are still quite limited, leading to a situation where there are only a few companies capable of breeding shrimp broodstock domestically", Mr. Chuong further added.

Mr. Chen pointed out that while imported shrimp broodstock can provide a reliable genetic source with good quality, there are some significant drawbacks. One of the main challenges is the transportation risks. When transporting broodstock from places like Hawaii (USA) or other countries to Vietnam, the long distances and prolonged travel times can have a negative impact on the health of the shrimp broodstock. This can lead to weakened broodstock, which ultimately affects the overall effectiveness of the production and the subsequent nurturing processes.

Another issue is the high cost associated with importing shrimp broodstock. The entire process, from transportation to quarantine procedures, import taxes, and other related expenses, adds a substantial financial burden on the company. These additional costs increase the overall cost of production, which in turn impacts the company’s ability to remain competitive in the market.

Furthermore, there is the challenge of adaptation. As an exotic species, these imported shrimp may face difficulties in adjusting to the local environmental conditions and market demands.