Hanoi – A two-day conference titled Responsible Shrimp Culture Improvement Program (RSCIP) – Vietnam: Findings, Funding and the Future for Small Scale Farmers was held on 20^th – 21^st December, 2012.

The conference focused on findings of assessment, which was implemented in provinces of Khanh Hoa, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Ca Mau in 2012; sharing experience, interests and discussing opportunity for collaboration and funding to help shrimp farming community, especially the small scale ones improve the practices to be more ecologically and socially responsible. The conference attracted up to nearly hundred attendants representing various key stakeholders of the sustainable shrimp industry.

Shrimp aquaculture plays an important role in Vietnamese economic development, income generation and food security. In 2011, shrimp export production reached 220.000 tons, valued at US$2.4 billion (38% of total fisheries products). However, despite the growth of the shrimp production, it currently faces growing risks including lower profits, increasing diseases, environmental impacts and social issues.

The Responsible Shrimp Cultivation Improvement Programme (RSCIP) in Vietnam, the initial assessment was jointly implemented by the consortium of Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Development (MCD), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Vietnam and Netherlands and Oxfam. The overarching purpose was to first identify and then assess selected shrimp farming communities’ willingness to participate in the programme and their ability to comply with programme requirements. The project output was to define and quantify a “business case” scenario that identifies the best location for further activity, the amount of financial support required to become certified and utilize Best Management Practices, (BMP).

            ‘We expect that the conference will help us identify practical recommendations for the next phase of the RSCIP. This includes partnership and funding collaboration opportunities for the future. We believe that there is strong business case for supporting traditional small scale shrimp farmers that will contribute to strengthening the overall image and sustainability of the  shrimp aquaculture industry in Vietnam, said Mr. William Wallace Murray, Program Leader – Aquaculture, Netherlands Development Organization (SNV).