Scottish university leads push for better fish farming in Vietnam
Digital tool will give decision makers the information required to balance environmental protection with food production in Mekong Delta
A £3.5 million initiative to use the knowledge and skills of scientists at Scotland's Stirling University’s to help develop a digital tool for promoting sustainable fish farming in Vietnam's Mekong Delta has been announced.
The AquaSoS project aims to tackle disease outbreaks in farmed pangasius (catfish) and overcome anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and led by Professor Simon MacKenzie, head of the Univeristy Institute of Aquaculture (IoA).
Drawing on Earth observation (EO) and water quality expertise from Stirling’s Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES), the interdisciplinary project will utilise data from satellites, sensors and labs to address challenges such as pollution, climate change, and disease.
AquaSoS will ultimately create a digital tool to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable aquaculture. This will equip scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders with the information required to balance environmental protection with food production.
Vulnerable habitats
MacKenzie said: “Rivers, seas and deltas are particularly vulnerable to rising water temperatures, salinisation, pollution, and changes in sediment flow due to environmental change.
“These changes disrupt ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and threaten food and water security, disproportionately impacting developing nations such as Vietnam.
“We have chosen to develop our AquaSoS framework in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam because there is multi-species production at scale, but an increasing burden of infectious diseases. Indeed, infectious diseases in Asian and global aquaculture are a major continuous threat to sustainable production. AquaSoS will be designed to address this problem.”
The project was announced during a visit to Striling University earlier this month by Iain Frew, Britain’s ambassador to Vietnam.
Leading the way
“The University of Stirling is leading the way globally in aquaculture research, and the decades long work undertaken in Vietnam contributes significantly to the livelihoods of fishermen and communities throughout the Mekong region,” said Frew.
He added: “I’m delighted that UKRI funding will enable the University of Stirling to continue their world class research partnerships in the Mekong through the development of AquaSoS, developing tools to address the challenges posed by climate change and facilitating Vietnam’s transformation to a more resilient food system.”
University principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sir Gerry McCormac said the project was an example of how Stirling’s scientists are applying research and innovation around the world to support environmental sustainability and global food security.
AquaSoS is one of four projects to be announced as part of a £12m UKRI initiative to enhance sustainable aquaculture in Southeast Asia, addressing climate change, food security and community resilience. The other projects focus on improving mollusc farming; supporting the seaweed industry by creating disease-resistant crops; and developing low-cost tools to monitor water quality and detect diseases early, specifically targeting small-scale shrimp farmers in Vietnam and Thailand.
The projects are funded through the UK Government’s International Science Partnership Fund Official Development Assistance budget and delivered by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
