The Netherlands’ Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Daniel Stork, has highlighted the potential for Vietnam and the Netherlands to collaborate on sustainable aquaculture in the Mekong Delta.

Addressing a business forum on November 27, Mr. Stork emphasized that joint efforts could provide farmers with the necessary knowledge and technology for sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection, requiring the participation of both public and private sector stakeholders.

The forum discussed two key areas: disease management in aquaculture, and the exchange of experience and project ideas, with the aim of proposing practical solutions tailored to specific conditions in the Mekong Delta.

Vietnam’s total aquaculture area reached 1.3 million hectares in 2023, with the Mekong Delta accounting for 70 per cent of the total. The country’s seafood export value stood at $9.2 billion, with the region responsible for 57.6 per cent.

However, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien identified significant challenges facing the Mekong Delta’s aquaculture industry, such as climate change, saltwater intrusion, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure from international markets.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huu from the Directorate of Fisheries suggested areas where the Netherlands could provide support, including water resource management, circular economy models, advanced technology transfer (IoT and AI applications), breeding programs, capacity building and training, market development, and climate change mitigation.

Mr. Michiel Smit from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency added that achieving sustainable aquaculture and seafood production amid disease outbreaks, rising production costs, environmental pressure, and water management challenges requires strong focus and support on water management, food safety, farm management, and technology application.