Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Project Progress Report

062/04VIE: Intensive in-pond raceway
production of marine finfish

MS3: FIRST SIX-MONTHLY REPORT 1
1. Institute Information
Project Name
Intensive in-pond raceway production
of marine finfish
Vietnamese Institution
University of Fisheries
Vietnamese Project Team Leader
Dr. Hoang Tung
Australian Organisation
Queensland Department of Primary
Industries & Fisheries
Australian Personnel
Mr Michael Burke

Position:
Senior Planning
Officer, R&D
Coordination
Fax:
+61 7 3346 2727
Organisation
DPI&F
Email:


In Vietnam
Name:
Dr. Hoang Tung
Telephone:
+84.914 166 145
Position:
Rector’s Assistant for R&D
Fax:
+84.58.831147
Organisation
University of Fisheries
Email:
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2. Project Abstract
This project aims to develop the larval rearing and nursery capacity of marine finfish
production in Vietnam through the use of accessible, cost effective and

4. Introduction & Background
Aquaculture plays an important role in the development of Vietnam’s economy and
has been widely considered as an effective means for poverty alleviation by the FAO.
The country aims to produce 2 million tons of aquaculture products, mainly with
marine species, by 2010. This ambitious target has been supported by a great amount
of financial and technical assistance from the Ministry of Fisheries and several
international agencies including CARD. In Australia, aquaculture has been the fastest
growing primary production sector over the last five years with increasing interest in
species like barramundi, yellowtail kingfish, and more recently grouper and cobia.

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Nonetheless, growth of the marine finfish industry in both countries has been
constrained by the absence of cheap, robust production technologies that alleviate the
negative environmental impacts associated with marine aquaculture. In Vietnam,
marine fish are farmed mainly in small sea cages and partly in coastal ponds with
wild-caught fingerlings. To reduce collection pressure on the wild stocks and supply
more fingerlings for grow-out, tremendous efforts have been spent on development of
artificial seed production of important species such as groupers, cobia and
barramundi. While successful at producing larvae, the lack of an efficient, highly
secure yet financially accessible system for the nursing of fingerlings means a
production bottleneck still exists for Vietnamese finfish growers. Fish are too small
for nursing in cages while survival is low if nursing is conducted in ponds. Nursing
fingerlings in tanks is expensive and limited in production.
In Queensland the traditional sea cage approach to marine fish farming is also viewed
as damaging to coral reefs and other sensitive aquatic habitats. Intense scrutiny of
sea-cage operations indicates these have limited prospects for marine fish farming in
Queensland’s inshore waters. New sustainable yet profitable land based production
methods must be employed in order to return value from the ongoing effort into
marine finfish production. This need is heightened considering that prawn farmers are
seeking alternative cropping opportunities in the wake of global oversupply and the

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• Research facilities in Vietnam are now ready for the first trials.
• Plans are completed for training and extension activities. Arrangements
involving stakeholders are finalized. Project routines are established among
partners.

5.2 Smallholder Benefits
In Australia:
• Consultation with Australian industry partners has resulted in supply of eggs
for research trials from collaborative farms and other government agencies.
Plans are being discussed with these farms to also fabricate raceways for use
in their nursery facilities.
• The nursery application and grow out of marine finfish at high densities in
raceways has been demonstrated to several industry, university and training
organisations in the first period of the project.
• An industry awareness program to promote and discuss options for finfish
production in coastal prawn ponds has been proposed for mid 2006.

In Vietnam:
• Through collaboration with Khanh Hoa Fisheries Extension Centre (KFEC),
University of Fisheries (UoF) aims to bring the potential benefits to local
farmers instantly. Furthermore, under instruction of the Project, additional
trials will be implemented using own resources of the centre and possibly a
number of small farms later on (when benefits are more clearly
demonstrated).
• The Project has finalized the plan for an Introductory Workshop on the
Potential of Using Floating Raceways for Aquaculture Production for 50-60
local aquaculture farmers in mid February 2006. Initially, this workshop was
planned for late November 2005 but flooding in the area had hampered the
activity. This workshop aims to introduce the principles of raceway design

• A study tour was organized in late November for the Vietnamese Project
Leader and two other staff of UoF by BIARC. The participants visited
raceway facilities at BIARC and commercial farms, discussed with technical
persons regarding the design and operation of raceways. The delegation also
met with DPI&F administrators to strengthen relations and support from
both sides for the project; discussed with Dr. Adrian Collins regarding the
implementation of the project, research strategies and the organization of the
February workshop in Vietnam.
• Training on water quality analysis and monitoring are under preparation and
will also take place in February 2006 for project staff and young faculty
members at the Faculty of Aquaculture, UoF.
5.4 Publicity
• Brief information about the Project has been published on the website of the
Faculty of Aquaculture, University of Fisheries.
• It is planned that once document for the introductory workshop is finalized,
an article will be submitted for publication in one of the national fisheries
journals and possibly in international magazine such as The Advocate
(Global Aquaculture Alliance) or World Aquaculture Magazine (World
Aquaculture Society). This article will also use information obtained from
the Stakeholder Beneficiary Analysis that had been conducted during the
development of this project.
• A poster summarising the project was displayed at the recent Australian
Prawn and Barramundi Farmers’ Association conference on the Gold Coast
(September 24 – 27
th
).
• Farmers who join the Introductory Workshop in February 2006 will receive
a T-shirt from the project. This is an attempt to promote the use of raceway
and the project to publicity in Vietnam. A short script about the workshop
will be broadcasted in local and national TVs.

future maintenance of water quality.
7.2 Options
• Flexibility in species of choice given ample justification provided.
7.3 Sustainability
• Appeared not to be an issue as more interested parties involved in the project.
8. Next Critical Steps
In Vietnam (for the period from February 06 to August 06)
• Testing the experimental systems and research facilities/equipments
• Further training technicians in Vietnam
• Organizing the Introductory Workshop to local farmers
• Conducting the first trials on barramundi, followed by either milkfish or sea
horses and then cobia.
• Preparation of the first scientific article

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• Preparing one-year progress report

In Australia (for the period from February to August 06)
• Finalising waste collection system for raceways including purchasing
equipment and collecting samples to assess performance and impact on water
quality.
• Assess the suitability of pond conditions for introduction of secondary crops.
• Testing the experimental systems and research facilities/equipments
• Facilitating research and training activities for staff from UoF.
• Participation in Industry workshops in Vietnam and Australia.
• Preparing industry and project publications and reports on activities.
9. Conclusion
Project is progressing according to plans in both Australia and Vietnam. The
unexpected delay in contract negotiation has forced project duration in Vietnam to
extend for 5 more months (due to seasonal availability of fish fry).