VIETNAM – Following the success of the March session, a second specialized training program, "Smart Shrimp Farming: Intensive Multi-phase Shrimp Production in Circular Tanks," was held from December 3–7, 2024. This program focused on the "multi-phase" methodology, a high-tech strategy where shrimp are transferred through a series of specialized circular tanks to optimize growth and health at every life stage.
The December cohort featured 16 aquaculture professionals from eight countries: Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. This diverse group explored the technical requirements of intensive systems, emphasizing how multi-phase production can achieve up to 4–5 harvests per year—nearly double the output of traditional single-phase ponds. By utilizing above-ground circular tanks, farmers can maintain tighter control over biosecurity and water quality, significantly reducing the risk of disease outbreaks that often plague open-pond systems.
The training was grounded in real-world application through extensive field visits to Vietnam’s leading shrimp hubs in Vung Tau, Tra Vinh, and Ho Chi Minh City. Participants observed high-density nursery stages and the subsequent transfer to larger grow-out tanks, witnessing first-hand how smart technologies—such as automated waste removal and real-time oxygen monitoring—are integrated into the production cycle. These visits highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of the "circular" model, which minimizes water discharge and maximizes land use efficiency, providing a scalable blueprint for sustainable shrimp farming across the Asia-Pacific region.
