“Climate-Smart” Fisheries and Aquaculture to Support Resilient Aquatic Ecosystems in Vietnam

The Vietnamese government has committed to climate mitigation and adaptation in support of the Paris Agreement. Implementation of Vietnam’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to adaptation involves a greater focus on the Mekong River Delta, which is poised to be impacted by sea level rise. Saline intrusion from sea level rise and droughts can affect aquatic ecosystems and the services they provide, including freshwater quantity and quality; aquaculture and fishing; and biodiversity. 

Saline intrusion has already been observed in the coastal region of the Mekong Delta, including the Soc Trang province, Bac Lieu province, Kiên Giang province, and Cà Mau. Although aquaculture farmers in the region have actively responded to changing farming models (e.g., improved conditions for shrimp and crab culture), not all farming models are equally sustainable. Some practices can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions while others may play a role in sequestering carbon. There is an immediate need to better understand how ‘climate-smart’ fisheries and aquaculture can improve adaptive capacity and enhance resilience to climate change in vulnerable communities of Vietnam. 

This project will support an Embassy Science Fellow (ESF) who would collaborate with Nong Lam University on providing vital information on ‘climate-smart’ fisheries and aquaculture. The project deliverables would be an infographic on climate-smart fisheries for distribution by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and a peer-reviewed publication synthesizing a systematic literature review on climate-smart inland fisheries and aquaculture practices in Vietnam. The fellow will conduct virtual programs in Can Tho and An Giang, and virtually serve on a panel discussion on sustainable practices for aquatic resources. This work advances the CASC model of partner-driven climate adaptation on an international stage to help fisheries managers and local communities adapt to a changing climate in support of the Department of Interior’s international technical assistance objectives and conservation, equity, and environmental justice priorities, as well as U.S. foreign policy priorities on science and innovation. This project also advances Vietnam’s Integrated Country Strategy goal to “strengthen Vietnam’s leadership to ensure an environmentally and economically sustainable, secure Mekong Delta.”