March 19, 2025

University of Stirling, UK launches US$4.5 million digital tool for sustainable aquaculture in Vietnam

The University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture has launched a GBP 3.5 million (US$4.5 million) initiative to develop a digital tool aimed at supporting sustainable aquaculture in Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

The AquaSoS project, drawing on expertise from the university's Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, will use satellite data, water quality sensors, and lab analysis to address challenges such as pollution, climate change, and disease. The tool is designed to provide scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders with critical ecosystem insights, helping to balance food production with environmental protection.

Professor Simon MacKenzie explained that the Mekong Delta was selected for the project due to its large-scale multi-species production and increasing burden of infectious diseases. He noted that infectious diseases in Asian and global aquaculture remain a significant threat to sustainable production. AquaSoS is designed to address this issue by providing real-time data to improve disease management.

The project is one of four launched under a GBP 12 million (US$15.4 million) initiative by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to enhance sustainable aquaculture in Southeast Asia. These projects aim to address climate change, food security, and community resilience, supporting the long-term viability of seafood production in the region.

MacKenzie highlighted the vulnerability of rivers, seas, and deltas to rising water temperatures, salinisation, pollution, and changes in sediment flow due to environmental change. He said these disruptions threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and food and water security, particularly in developing nations such as Vietnam.

The initiative is funded through the UK Government's International Science Partnership Fund Official Development Assistance budget and is being delivered by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

British Ambassador to Vietnam, His Excellency Iain Frew, emphasised the University of Stirling's leadership in aquaculture research. He noted that the university's long-standing work in Vietnam has contributed significantly to the livelihoods of fishermen and communities in the Mekong region. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to address disease outbreaks in Pangasius and to combat Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), ensuring the future resilience of aquaculture in the Mekong Delta.

- Global Seafood Alliance