Sand-field shrimp aquaculture: Struggling to survive amid pollution

Decreased land area

The province presently has an aquaculture area of over 5,237 hectares, as per Mr. Pham Thanh Nhan, Head of the Aquaculture Division (Gia Lai Fisheries Sub-Department). The Eastern Gia Lai region (formerly Binh Dinh province) spans over 4,217 hectares, while the Western Gia Lai region (formerly Gia Lai province) consists of 1,020 hectares. This encompasses approximately 2,337 cages for marine fish and crustacean, as well as 1,235 freshwater fish cages/rafts (745 in the former Binh Dinh region and 490 in the former Gia Lai region). The estimated total provincial output is 11,454 tons, representing a 4% increase from the same period in 2024.

The brackish water aquaculture area is approximately 1,957 hectares as of August 2025. There are 1,911 hectares of brackish water shrimp farming, 46 hectares of mollusk farming, and 60 hectares of high-tech shrimp farming. The estimated total production of brackish water shrimp is approximately 6,703 tons.

Mr. Nhan observed that "in the early 2000s, on-sand shrimp farming experienced significant growth in Eastern Gia Lai (formerly Binh Dinh province), marking a significant turning point for the local seafood industry".

At that time, the farming area in the communes of My Thang, My An, and My Duc (in the former Phu My district, Binh Dinh), now Phu My Dong and Phu My Bac (Gia Lai), swiftly expanded to nearly 200 hectares before extending to coastal regions such as Hoai Nhon and Phu Cat. The high immediate economic returns prompted numerous households to invest and expand, resulting in a rapid increase in acreage year after year.

Nevertheless, deficiencies were inevitable due to the rapid, unregulated expansion. Environmental pollution increased due to the failure to comply with wastewater and waste treatment procedures and the prevalence of high-density farming. Shrimp yields became unstable due to their susceptibility to disease. The on-sand shrimp aquaculture area in Phu My Dong and Phu My Bac has been steadily decreasing, and it now consists of just over 30 hectares.

Persistent disease risks and mounting losses

Aquaculture in the Eastern Gia Lai region underwent a significant transformation with sand-field shrimp farming. The industry has been experiencing a decline in recent years as a result of the increasing environmental degradation.

Over 60 hectares of on-sand shrimp ponds in Cat Tien commune were once bustling agricultural areas approximately a decade ago. However, the prolonged pollution that resulted from inadequate environmental protection measures led to a series of disease outbreaks. Subsequently, numerous agricultural households have encountered substantial losses, necessitating the abandonment of numerous ponds. This is a prevalent reality in the on-sand shrimp aquaculture areas of Eastern Gia Lai.

Mr. Vo Thanh Hung (Hoai Nhon Dong Ward) previously possessed seven hectares of ponds. He experienced annual losses that ranged from 500 million VND to over 1 billion VND for five consecutive years, which is equivalent to approximately USD 19,650 USD to over USD 39,300. Three years ago, he abandoned the waters due to his inability to bear the burden and has not attempted to farm since.

Mr. Huynh Co's situation is comparable: following numerous unsuccessful harvests on his 5,000 square meters of ponds, he was compelled to lease the land to others for extensive farming at low stocking densities in order to reduce risk.

Environmental shock and disease outbreaks were the result of protracted heatwaves interspersed with thunderstorms, as per Mr. Pham Thanh Nhan, the second shrimp crop of 2025. Fortunately, the capability of early detection enabled the implementation of opportune control measures. This reality, however, emphasizes the ongoing risk of disease in Gia Lai, particularly for households that employ conventional agricultural methods that do not incorporate environmental control technology or water treatment.

In contrast, households that allocate resources to advanced technology experience a substantial decrease in risk, despite the additional expenses. Although the province presently has only 60 hectares allocated to high-tech shrimp farming, this indicates a necessary shift in direction as the conventional on-sand shrimp industry is at a standstill.