The Importance Of Aquaculture

Vietnam with its long coastal areas and topography of many ponds, rivers, lakes, estuaries has a high potential for aquaculture development (Nguyen Thanh et al., 2006). Aquaculture with its rapid growth has been helping the country’s economy with exported products as well as improving farmers’ livelihoods in rural areas (Duc, 2009, Tran Dinh, 2009, Phuong Lan, 2013). On the other hand, aquaculture in association with agriculture is a “climate dependent” activity with high risk of failure from natural hazards (Adger, 1999, Allison et al., 2009). Adger (1999), Dasgupta et al. (2007) showed evidences that disasters like typhoons, floods, and droughts occur more frequently and seriously in the past twenty years in Vietnam relate to climate change. According to Boateng (2012), the Red river delta in the north and the Mekong Delta

Bui Nguyen Phuc et al. (2012) investigated communities’ awareness of climate change and its impacts on rural coastal livelihood in Ben Tre province. Most of farmers acknowledge of climate change and it is decided by age, education and past experience. Among agriculture, aquaculture and fishing farming, climate change events have serious impacts on aquaculture. With the same purpose of understanding the impact of weather variability on aquaculture and agriculture in the Mekong Delta, Dang Kieu et al. (2011) used 1990 – 2008 statistical series data and information from previous projects to analyze. The results showed that rice and shrimp production in the study area are influenced mainly by temperature and rainfall. Rice production is more sensitive to weather variables than aquaculture, and shrimp production is more sensitive than Pangasius catfish