Oyster (Crassostrea angulata) aquaculture in Vietnam is relatively new but has proven highly successful. Conservative estimates of production are 15,000 tonnes/annum, and farming has now spread across 28 Provinces with 2,500 coastal-dwelling families benefiting from the industry (O’Connor et al., 2019). These small-scale businesses in rural Vietnam have been supported through a series of investments from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) that have promoted profitable and sustainable use of coastal and near-shore resources. This industry has enabled diversification into other types of farming and created more jobs, more assets, more protein sources, and improved quality of life for farmers and their families, but these benefits have also come with challenges (Pierce, 2014).
In 2017, Vietnam was ranked 6th in the world for countries most affected by climate change according to Germanwatch’s Global Climate Risk Index. Therefore, the sustainability and ongoing success of oyster production and aquaculture practices in Vietnam are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Although the overall carbon footprint of oysters is currently under evaluation, there exists an opportunity to rapidly advance and sophisticate oyster aquaculture in Vietnam, and to explore the full economic, environmental, and social benefits it can bring.
A survey and supply chain analysis (Ugalde et al., in press) were conducted on the industry – from farm to plate – in northern Vietnam. The analysis identified key challenges for the new and growing industry (figure below) and areas to improve efficiency to make the supply chain more profitable. 68% of survey respondents thought that oyster shells should be sold as a by-product, and seven potential uses were identified: 1) carbon and carbon off-set schemes, 2) use in hatcheries for spat settlement, 3) mineral supplements in livestock feed, 4) soil management to reduce acidity, 5) crop and vegetable growth and vitality, 6) building foundations, road manufacture, or artificial stone, and 6) water filtration and purification. This presentation will discuss the status and challenges of the growing industry and tease apart the supply chain to show areas for improved efficiency. The potential for oyster by-products will be discussed, including the potential for carbon off-set schemes in Vietnam.