A risk management framework for aquaculture: the case of Vietnamese catfish farming

Vietnamese aquaculture, in general, and Vietnamese catfish farming, in particular, has also experienced a rapid growth in the past decade to meet the increasing demand both domestically and internationally. The fast growing catfish industry is troubled by many problems, challenges and uncertainties such as: environmental and edaphic issues, losses due to disease, strict quality and safety regulations, export-import restrictions, increasing production costs, sustainability, oversupply and other global and regional socioeconomic problems. All these uncertainties are potentially detrimental risks to the catfish industry and they need to be managed in a systematic way for the sustainable development of the industry. A sound and solid risk management framework, as well as a risk management tool, is very much needed for Vietnamese catfish farming. The purpose of this study is to develop a risk management framework for Vietnamese catfish farming. Three objectives are proposed: (1) to examine the perceptions of risks and risk management in catfish farming; (2) to develop a risk management framework for Vietnamese catfish farming; and (3) to develop a decision support system (DSS) as an implementation tool for risk management in Vietnamese catfish farming. Prior to the development of the risk management framework, Vietnamese catfish farmers’ perceptions of risks and risk management were examined using the data collected from a questionnaire survey of 261 catfish farmers in the Mekong Delta. Descriptive statistics methods were used to evaluate the perceptions of risk and risk management. Next, exploratory factor analysis (EPA) and multivariate regression methods were used to determined the influences of farm socioeconomic characteristics on the perceptions of risks and risk management. A risk management framework was developed as a combination of the catfish business process model and the risk management process introduced by AS/NZS 4360. The seven (7) steps in the risk management process were subsequently applied on each of the sub-processes in the catfish farming business. The data used for the development of the risk management framework were collected from a survey of 261 catfish farmers in the Mekong Delta. The risk management framework developed in this study was then used as the foundation for the development of the DSS as an implementing tool for risk management in Vietnamese catfish farming. Once the risk management framework was developed, a DSS for risk management was then built upon as a tool implementing the proposed framework for practical risk management activity. The developed DSS has three main components: a model system, a data system, and a user interface. The system was written in Visual Basic for Application on the Microsoft Excel platform. Finally, a modified UTAUT model was built to evaluate the acceptance of the DSS for risk management in Vietnamese catfish farming. The model was assessed using data collected from a fresh survey of 55 catfish farmers and local aquaculture staff in the Mekong Delta. The findings of this part of the study provide insights into the role of traditional UTAUT factors and other demographic variables influencing the intention to use an information technology innovation

GIS-based modelling of agrochemical use, distribution and accumulation in the Lower Mekong Delta, Vietnam: A case study of the risk to aquaculture

In recent years, the Mekong delta has been strongly developed both for agriculture and aquaculture. However, there is scope for a negative impact of agriculture on aquaculture in term of production and quality of seafood products. Specifically, the large amount of pesticides imported and used in the Mekong delta not only help agriculture purposes but can also easily enter aquatic systems and affect aquaculture. Pesticides can be transported in the environment by chemo-dynamic procedures and hydrological processes. As a result, pesticides used in agriculture become dispersed and their residues in sediment, water and biota have been detected in the Mekong delta. This study investigated the overall pesticide process including pesticide use, modelling pesticide accumulation and evaluating the potential impact on aquaculture sites for some target aquatic species. The risk of pesticides use in the Mekong delta was addressed in three stages: (1) investigating current pesticide use status in the Mekong delta; (2) modelling pesticide loss and accumulation; (3) classifying pesticide risk areas for aquaculture of target cultured species. A survey of 334 farms covering a total area of ~20,000km2 in the Mekong delta took place between 2008 and 2009. Information on pesticide types and quantities was recorded using questionnaires, and it was found that 96 pesticides in 23 groups were popularly used for agricultural purposes. Dicarboximide, Carbamate and Conazole had the highest use at ~3000, ~2000 and ~2000 g/ha/year respectively. The survey revealed an increase in pesticide use per hectare since previous surveys in the Mekong delta in 1994, 2000, and 2004. However, the highly persistent compounds (WHO classification classes II, III and IV) appeared to have reduced in use. Insecticides previously represented >50% of the total pesticides used, however, the resent survey has shown their use has decreased to ~38%.There was a parallel increase in use of fungicides from previous levels of <30% of total pesticides to more recently ~41%. The combination of pesticide information and geo-location data enabled display and analysis of this data spatially using a Geographic Information System (GIS). A pesticide loss and accumulation model was established through combination of several sub-models including sediment loss and accumulation, direct loss, and water runoff, all of which were implemented and integrated within the GIS environment. MUSLE (Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation) was used to estimate sediment loss and accumulation in the Mekong delta and the Curve Number method (CN Method) was applied to predict water runoff and discharges and flow accumulation. Modelling commenced from the first pesticide application in April, based on 4 day time-steps. All mathematical calculations run within each time step automatically reiterated in the following time step with the new input datasets. The results from fuzzy classification of the pesticide model outcomes were considered in terms of the 96hr lethal concentration (LC50) in order to classify the risk and non-risk areas for catfish and tiger shrimp culture. The sediment loss and accumulation model shows that the highest loss of sediment was in the rainy season, especially in May to October. Vegetables and short term crop areas were found be most strongly eroded. The MUSLE model showed that the highest sediment accumulation was in the hilly areas (~1066.42 tonne/ha/year); lower in riverside areas (~230.39 tonne/ha/year) and lowest in flooded paddy areas (~150.15tonne/ha/year). Abamectin was used as an example throughout this study to estimate pesticide loss and its effects on aquaculture. The results showed that pesticide loss by runoff and sediment loss is less than the loss by half-life degradation (for Abamectin specifically). Accumulation of Abamectin occurred at highest rate in May and October and decreased with time. The spatial models showed that pesticide residues concentrated in the river and riverside areas. In order to evaluate the acute toxicity impacts, three levels of water depth in ponds were modelled as culture depths for catfish and tiger shrimp. The results show that the highest risk areas for catfish occurred in May and October with ~333,000 and ~420,000 ha at a pond depth of 0.5 m; ~136,000 and ~183,000 ha at a pond depth of 1.0 m; and ~10,840 and ~19,000 ha at a pond depth of 1.5 m. Risk areas for catfish mainly concentrated at the riverside and in part of the coastal areas. For tiger shrimp, the risk periods during the year were similar to those found for catfish. The highest risk areas for shrimp were ~648,000 and ~771,000 ha at 0.5 m pond depth; ~346,000 and ~446,700 ha at 1.0 m pond depth; and ~185,000 and ~250,000 ha at 1.5 m pond depth. Overall, deeper ponds reduced the risk. This study has developed a method to evaluate the negative impact of input pesticides to the environment from agricultural use related to fluctuation of aquaculture risk areas. The research indicates the potential relationship between pesticide input and the risk areas for aquaculture. The model has several significant uses: 1) it can provide information to policy makers for a more harmonized development of both aquaculture and agriculture in the Mekong delta in the future, 2) it provides data for aquaculture investment analysis to decrease the hazards caused by pesticide impacts, and 3) it provides a model capable of application to wide field scenarios and suitable for any pesticide type

A conceptual framework for risk management in aquaculture

Aquaculture is considered a high-risk industry in which the heterogeneity of the productions hinders the development and application of risk management. However, risk sources have still received little attention in aquaculture research. The present study aims to provide a framework of the main risk sources perceived by aquaculture producers. Firstly, we conceptualize the different dimensions and typologies of risks. Then, we integrate the main risk sources into a comprehensive framework based on a review of the literature providing empirical evidence on aquaculture producers' risk perceptions in different countries and aquaculture productions. Finally, the opinion of a panel of independent experts provides the vision of other relevant stakeholders in the value chain. This process allowed us to present a picture of risks in the aquaculture industry, consisting of eight risk categories, 19 risk types and 40 risk sources. The most relevant sources of risks for producers in the internal dimension are those related to operations (fingerlings, feeding, seeding and harvesting). In the external dimension, market risks (price variability, inputs price, and changes in demand) and production risks (climatic shocks and diseases) stand out. The perceptions of the stakeholders consulted highlight that producers tend to underestimate important risks, such as regulatory or financial ones. This picture provides a useful risk framework for policy makers, producers, scientists and other stakeholders to address such an essential first step in risk management and governance, the identification of risk sources

Learning about climate-related risks: decisions of Northern Thailand fish farmers in a role-playing simulation game

The findings of this study underline the importance of understanding decision-making behaviour around risks for climate risk management in fish farming. The study aimed to improve how farmers make investment decisions in their fish farms when faced with risks from floods. The simulation game provided novel situations of experimental, role-playing, and decision-making, revealing limitations in common assumptions about the ease of learning from previous experiences. Findings also suggest that decision-support systems for aquaculture should take into account how recent experiences, understanding of information, and other factors influence risk perceptions and decisions

Comparative assessment of the vulnerability and resilience of 10 deltas : work document

Background information about: Nile delta (Egypt), Incomati delta (Mozambique), Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (Bangladesh), Yangtze (China), Ciliwung (Indonesia), Mekong (Vietnam), Rhine-Meuse (The Netherlands), Danube (Romania), California Bay-Delta, Mississippi River Delta (USA

An agricultural management system designed to determine the capability of farm land at the district, commune, hamlet, and farm level in the An Giang province, Viet Nam

The aim of this study is to develop a theoretical model for land capability assessment. The study investigates components and factors, which are required for an effective agricultural management system, and considers relationships, and interactions within and between those components and factors in contributing to the capability of farmland. The theoretical model incorporates theory from a range of disciplines relating to agricultural management and agricultural land, including the bio-physical, technical and management, land development and improvement, land conservation and environmental, socio-economic, and institutional and policy. The contribution of the components and factors, and their interactions are key considerations in analysing the capability of farmland. The theoretical model is tested through undertaking a case study in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam, based on suitable farming systems. The results from the case study confirm the adaptability, flexibility and applicability of the theoretical model, as well as providing useful feedback for the theoretical model

Water quality in agriculture: risks and risk mitigation

This publication, Water Quality in Agriculture: Risks and Risk Mitigation, emphasizes technical solutions and good agricultural practices, including risk mitigation measures suitable for the contexts of differently resourced institutions working in rural as well as urban and peri-urban settings in low- and middle-income countries. With a focus on sustainability of the overall land use system, the guidelines also cover possible downstream impacts of farm-level decisions. As each country has a range of site-specific conditions related to climate, soil and water quality, crop type and variety, as well as management options, subnational adjustments to the presented guidelines are recommended. Water Quality in Agriculture: Risks and Risk Mitigation, is intended for use by national and subnational governmental authorities, farm and project managers, extension officers, consultants and engineers to evaluate water quality data, and identify potential problems and solutions related to water quality. The presented guidelines will also be of value to the scientific research community and university students

Microbial composition in biofloc-based shrimp aquaculture systems

Shrimp disease outbreaks such as EMS can occur at the early post-stocking stage due to the presence of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as species of Vibrio. EMS can cause up to 100% shrimp mortality and result in a 70% drop in total shrimp production. This bacteria-caused disease has led to the conclusion that sustainable shrimp aquaculture will depend on the development of bio-secure production systems, which need to be improved to ensure growth and disease resistance and facilitate bio-shrimp productivity towards sustainable aquaculture. This research work focused on improving the existing methods of disease prevention by examining the nature of shrimp-pathogen interactions to identify promising applications for shrimp farming, such as the use of bio-inoculants. To successfully use microbial composition in shrimp disease management, four different approaches to intensive shrimp aquaculture were compared with regard to the bacterial composition vs. biological and operational parameters. The results indicate that the total suspended solids (TSS) and pH are the most important indicating a systema s biosecurity (i.e. indicate the stability of parameters in a system). Overall, this thesis provides baseline information on bacterial ecology, intending to establish healthy super-intensive shrimp aquaculture with recommendations for best practices. As a future outlook, a shrimp eco-culture system is proposed with a high potential for contributing to responsible aquaculture. We propose a rapid beneficial bacteria kit, such as for Ruegeria sq1 and Pseudoalteromonas sq91 bacteria as r-matured bacteria, using biofloc technology as an alternative approach to controlling shrimp disease outbreaks via bacterial activity management

国際河川メコン流域における賢明な水政策のための科学・政策・実務間協調の最適化

Tohoku University論