Limiting the impact of climate change on aquaculture

(Baonghean) -In recent years, climate change has greatly affected aquaculture. Frequent rain, wind, storms and floods have changed crop seasons, farming methods and degraded ecosystems, damaging and degrading agricultural infrastructure in general and aquaculture in particular.

Nghe An is a locality that is relatively heavily affected by climate change, especially in the agricultural sector, including aquaculture. According to incomplete statistics, in the past 4 years since 2008, Nghe An has suffered from natural disasters, storms, floods, severe cold spells, causing damage to over 20,000 hectares of lagoons, ponds, aquaculture areas of all kinds, and dozens of coastal cages equivalent to over 129 billion VND. Big storms also destroyed the dike system of aquaculture ponds, factory systems, stations, and hatcheries; negatively impacted and unbalanced the ecosystem of the aquaculture area...

Mangrove forests in Quynh Luu.

To respond to climate change, the province has developed the "Action Plan to Respond to Climate Change of Nghe An Province for the period 2011 - 2015 with a view to 2020", planning for fisheries development and exploitation until 2020; assessing the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on the area, productivity, output and aquaculture activities; developing reasonable plans for farming areas, farming areas, farming objects, farming methods and farming seasons in accordance with weather, climate and local realities.

Along with focusing on directing the diversification of farming forms, the province continues to invest in a synchronous and closed infrastructure system serving aquaculture such as: Elevating the banks of areas, lakes and ponds to protect livestock in case of heavy rains and floods; upgrading the electricity system serving production, electric water pumping stations, water supply and drainage canal systems, settling ponds, wastewater treatment ponds, and transportation systems serving production; investing in and upgrading the transportation system and infrastructure of farming areas to be proactive in evacuation when there is high water; continuing to consider the breeding stage as a breakthrough in the development process; building breeding production and service facilities to proactively source good breeds to ensure the production season according to instructions, ensure the quality of breeds, and prevent diseases.

Attracting the application of science and technology, researching and transferring technology to reproduce aquatic species of economic value; selecting and creating new breeds that are both economically valuable and disease resistant and adaptable to the harsh weather conditions of the Central region such as high temperature, high salinity, etc. Carrying out propaganda, disseminating knowledge and information, raising awareness of the impacts of climate change and actions to mitigate and adapt to the fishing community and fisheries management officers at the provincial, district and commune levels and officers of grassroots fisheries associations; researching policies to support, develop and insure the fisheries industry in the context of climate change; promoting the application of GAP in aquaculture... Applying community-based co-management in fisheries through strengthening the activities of community-level fisheries associations to move towards applying ecosystem-based management and adaptive management; Building a policy system, integrating climate change into programs, projects, planning and socio-economic development plans for the province's fisheries; developing and strengthening state management capacity for aquaculture at the local level.

Tran Trung Thanh (Provincial Agricultural Extension Center)