Khanh Hoa: High-tech broodstock hub aims to secure shrimp genetics

A strict import and broodstock management strategy

Within the shrimp breed production chain, broodstock quality is considered the most critical “input”, determining the growth potential of commercial shrimp. At present, leading enterprises in Khanh Hoa continue to pursue extensive international cooperation strategies to access some of the world's most advanced genetic resources.

Newway Aquaculture Investment Co., Ltd. (Vinh Hai Commune) has become a strategic partner of top broodstock suppliers worldwide, particularly in the United States. 100% of its whiteleg shrimp broodstock is directly imported from the U.S., while domesticated black tiger shrimp broodstock is sourced from reputable breeding centers in Thailand.

According to Nguyen Hong Son, Director of Newway, broodstock are raised under highly controlled conditions that closely resemble their natural habitat while remaining entirely disease-free. The company uses rigorously screened fresh feed such as ragworms, squid, and oysters to stimulate natural spawning without the use of artificial stimulants.

The company strictly complies with state regulations that limit broodstock use to 140 days (approximately four months and 20 days). Beyond this period, although shrimp can still reproduce, the quality of nauplii declines, prompting the complete replacement of broodstock to ensure stable breed quality. Each female shrimp can produce between 350,000 and 500,000 eggs per spawning, with hatch rates reaching an impressive 90–95%.

At Tuan Ha Aquatic Breed Production Co., Ltd. (also in Vinh Hai Commune), Production Director Pham Duc Hanh emphasized that importing 100 percent of broodstock from Thailand is key to supplying fast-growing and highly uniform shrimp to the market. However, this approach is accompanied by rigorous post-import inspection and strict regulatory oversight.

Le Dinh Khiem, Head of the Khanh Hoa Sub-Department of the Directorate of Fisheries, noted that broodstock import management is tightly controlled from border entry points to farm facilities. After customs clearance, all shipments must be placed in centralized quarantine areas, where veterinary and fisheries officials test for major diseases such as White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). Only batches that test completely negative are approved for large-scale production.

Building a high-tech broodstock production zone

Although imported broodstock currently ensures high quality, achieving domestic genetic self-sufficiency remains a long-term strategic goal to reduce dependency and production costs.

Recognizing this, Khanh Hoa has planned a high-tech broodstock shrimp production zone in Son Hai (Phuoc Dinh Commune) with a total area of 37.7 hectares. This is the first and only specialized zone in Vietnam dedicated to broodstock shrimp, and it has been allocated to major enterprises and corporations to implement domestication research projects.

According to Le Dinh Khiem, the province encourages enterprises to develop broodstock lines that exhibit rapid growth, adaptability to climate change, and strong disease resistance, thereby ensuring a stable supply of high-quality shrimp for commercial farming.

By 2030, Khanh Hoa aims to domestically supply around 60% of whiteleg shrimp broodstock and 80% of domesticated black tiger shrimp broodstock. To achieve this target, the provincial agricultural sector is acting as a connector, linking large enterprises with research institutes and national breeding centers to conduct genome sequencing and selective breeding programs. These efforts focus on identifying shrimp with superior traits such as disease resistance, tolerance to low salinity, and accelerated growth rates.

Le Van Que, Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Aquatic Breed Association, emphasized that mastering broodstock production will significantly reduce breeding costs and enhance the global competitiveness of Vietnamese shrimp. At the same time, domestic production will enable better genetic traceability and help prevent inbreeding, a key factor behind slow growth in commercial shrimp in recent years.

The development of a closed-loop shrimp breeding ecosystem, from broodstock domestication to commercial breed production, is expected to lay the foundation for Khanh Hoa to become a true high-tech hub for Vietnam’s aquaculture sector. This transformation is also aligned with broader national strategies to modernize aquaculture, improve biosecurity standards, and integrate Vietnam more deeply into global seafood supply chains in a sustainable and competitive manner.