Thesis
Modeling socio-economic and environmental impacts of shrimp farming in Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101328
Abstract
Intensive shrimp farming is well-known worldwide as not only a highly profitable business but also a risky business. The excessive use of industrial feed, chemicals and antibiotics of this industry has imposed a great impact on the environment. In order to explain the economic incentive leading to dynamic land use and the interaction between this industry and the environment, a dynamic model is built for the case of Dai Hoa Loc Commune in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The model includes two modules of Shrimp land and Nitrogen, running from 1999 to 2019. Initial simulations suggest that model results match with stories from the field. Additional analysis reveals the risky nature of the shrimp industry which lies in the choice of starting stock density. Farmers tend to begin with high stock density to obtain huge profit in the first few years without knowing that the corresponding nutrient input will result in precipitous yield drop in subsequent years. Meanwhile, a low stock density brings low profit at first but makes the business sustainable. In the case of a constant stock density of 40 fry/m2 , the business will close down in nine years. Reducing stock density from 40 to 25 fry/m2 in 2008 helps sustain the system for 20 years at a yield of 0.75 tons/ha. Further testing combining this method with introducing treatment ponds in the same year results in a yield of 1 ton/ha at the end of the period. The best policy is combining lowering the stock density and improving the channel system to reduce nitrogen load in the channel system. This strategy creates a yield of 1.6 tons/ha from 2014 to the end of the time horizon. Shrimp supply and profit from this policy are both high suggesting that infrastructure development is necessary and practical.
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Details
- Title
- Modeling socio-economic and environmental impacts of shrimp farming in Mekong Delta, Vietnam
- Creators
- Thuy Thi Hong Nguyen
- Contributors
- Andrew Ford (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525090101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis