Shrimp larvae quantity and quality: Difficult to control, potential risks

The shrimp seed 'matrix' - Existing risks

Soc Trang is one of the largest regions for brackish water shrimp farming in the country, with an annual farming area of approximately 51.000 hectares. However, the issue of shrimp seed has always been a challenging problem, as the market offers too many options, ranging from large companies to small, independent facilities.

In terms of actual progress, the shrimp seeding for the 2025 brackish water shrimp season at Hung Phu Fisheries Cooperative in Cu Lao Dung District is behind schedule compared to the same period last year, with only about 20% of the planned area seeded (equivalent to over 16 hectares).

Mr. Lam Thanh Lam, Deputy Director of Hung Phu Fisheries Cooperative, explained that the delayed seeding is due to the emergence of diseases affecting the shrimp. As a result, cooperative members have chosen a staggered seeding method to reduce risks.

Normally, the households within the cooperative prioritize purchasing shrimp seeds from reputable and trusted suppliers. However, the shrimp seed market in the region is still quite complicated, with a situation where employees from various seed providers, including both large and small-scale operations, continuously approach farmers to pitch their products. Some farmers, looking to save on costs, opt to buy cheaper shrimp seeds from sources that lack clear origins. This decision carries significant risks because, if the shrimp are infected or have poor immunity, there is a high chance of mortality, which ultimately leads to even greater losses than the money initially saved.

A market representative from a major shrimp seed company in Soc Trang also acknowledged that the shrimp seed market is currently very complex. In addition to reputable companies, there are still many smaller facilities that process seeds from larger companies. In some cases, these smaller businesses do not even register, instead simply applying labels to the products before distributing them to the market.

"To give an estimate, in the districts of Tran De, Long Phu, and Cu Lao Dung, there are more than 100 companies supplying shrimp seeds. Most of these are small, locally-based facilities that process seeds before reselling them. Alternatively, they might purchase seeds from large companies, hold them for about 1-2 weeks, and then sell them off", shared the market representative.

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At present, most shrimp farmers rely on subjective factors when selecting their shrimp seeds, such as the uniformity of shrimp seed size or their quick responsiveness, or they make decisions based on word of mouth. When one farmer sees good results from using a particular seed source, many others tend to choose the same source without properly verifying the quality. This approach carries significant risks, as it increases the likelihood that farmers may end up purchasing poor-quality shrimp seeds, which could lead to a higher chance of disease outbreaks.

According to statistics from the (former) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, there are currently 8 facilities in the province dedicated to producing and nurturing aquatic seedlings, in addition to 25 shrimp seed acclimatization facilities actively operating, with a total production capacity of about 5.4 billion shrimp seeds per year.

However, the actual demand for shrimp seeds in Soc Trang reaches approximately 20 billion per year, forcing the province to import seeds from other areas such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and Bac Lieu. Although quality control efforts have been tightened, this does not completely eliminate the risk of disease outbreaks.

In particular, the direct marketing and delivery of shrimp seeds to farming households is making it more challenging to control the quality and ensure proper quarantine measures. Many batches of shrimp seeds with unclear origins continue to surface in the market, making control even more challenging.

How to choose shrimp seeds to reduce risks?

According to Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Hoang Oanh, from the Department of Aquatic Animal Diseases at the School of Aquaculture (Can Tho University), there are many claims in the market about "healthy, disease-free shrimp seeds". However, farmers need to understand this concept correctly.

"Disease-free shrimp seeds do not mean they are free from all diseases, but rather that they are not infected with certain diseases or dangerous pathogens", said Ms. Oanh.

The expert also further explained that the process of transporting shrimp seeds from one region to another can potentially lower the quality of the seeds, as the shrimp may undergo "shock" during transit. This shock creates a conducive environment for pathogens to spread, which is why certain diseases might not be detected during testing at the production site but could emerge after the shrimp are transported to their destination.

According to insights shared by cooperatives and shrimp farmers, most farmers today select shrimp seeds based on the reputation of the breeding farms or their own personal experience. However, a more systematic and reliable shrimp seed selection process should include several important steps: first, farmers should conduct visual assessments to observe the shrimp’s behavior and responsiveness; then, they should check the shrimp’s digestive system to ensure it is healthy and functioning properly; next, farmers should use a microscope to examine the seeds for any potential pathogens or parasites; and finally, performing PCR tests to screen for harmful diseases is crucial.

Additionally, shrimp farmers should prioritize selecting seeds from well-established and reputable companies that follow rigorous production and quality control processes. While the cost may be higher compared to seeds from less reputable or unregulated sources, choosing higher-quality seeds will lead to better outcomes in the long term.

Currently, most businesses provide shrimp seeds with certificates of disease-free quarantine. Farmers should request to see all the necessary documents before purchasing to avoid selecting batches of shrimp that have not been properly certified.

Particularly in terms of management, Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Hoang Oanh believes that shrimp seed production and nurturing farms need to improve and elevate their biosecurity procedures. This is because even if just a few farms fail to meet the required standards, disease outbreaks can occur and spread rapidly.

In order to improve the quality of shrimp seeds, in 2024, Soc Trang province conducted 16 rounds of inspections, covering 85 vehicles transporting aquatic seeds. Although no serious violations were detected, the local authorities continue to closely monitor the sources of shrimp seeds entering the province.

In addition, Soc Trang has signed agreements with major seed-supplying provinces such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Vung Tau, and Bac Lieu to share information regarding shrimp seed conditions, disease outbreaks, and to control the quality of incoming seeds.

Shrimp farming always comes with risks, but choosing high-quality shrimp seeds can significantly help reduce the potential for losses. In the context of the current complex seed market, from 2023 to 2025, Soc Trang province is intensifying efforts to attract investment in the seed production sector, with the aim of establishing high-quality seed production areas. This strategy is expected to reduce dependence on seeds imported from other regions.

In 2025, Soc Trang province plans to seed 51.000 hectares of brackish water shrimp, with an estimated production of 223.000 tons. Of this, 12.700 hectares will be dedicated to black tiger shrimp (with an estimated output of 24.500 tons), and about 38.300 hectares will be for white-legged shrimp (with an estimated output of 198.500 tons).

The province is implementing the Brackish water shrimp development project for 2025, aiming to establish a stable production plan, maintain and increase the export value of brackish water shrimp in a responsible manner, and enhance productivity and quality.