Sustainability of grouper seed supply to the aquaculture industry in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam | |
| Author | Le Anh Tuan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AS-98-14 |
| Subject(s) | Aquaculture--Vietnam--Khanh Hoa Groupers |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Grouper culture has developed in recent years in Khanh Hoa (a south central province of Vietnam) in response to high market value, the availability of unused shrimp ponds because of disease, and a cage culture tradition related to the fattening of lobsters. The study was based on assimilation of existing information, questionnaire survey of fishermen, and catch area ecological survey, to identify the present status and future potential of seed supply, from ecological, technical, and socio-economic perspectives. Catching areas were classified into three physical/ecological types using cluster analysis. Four areas were classified as estuary, six as lagoon, and six as coral reef There were six "black grouper" species collected: E. akaara, E. bleekeri, E. coioides, E. malabaricus, E. merra, and E. sexfasciatus and one "red grouper" Cephalopholis miniata what were temporarily held for export. Seed production from these areas was found to be positively correlated with sea grass cover for all species. In the case of E. coioides and E. merra, seagrass explained 94% of the variation in production, but less in other species. Production in all species was negatively correlated with both depth and salinity. Production was related to distance from mangrove. According to fishermen grouper seed, and in particular E. malabaricus migrated from estuary to lagoon to coral reef during the period January to August. Total grouper seed production in Khanh Hoa was approximately 200,000 pieces per year, sufficient to meet local demand in the short term, but insufficient to allow for further expansion of the industry. However, this supply may not be sustainable due to overexploitation of reefs, and mangrove, and the use of destructive or harmful fishing gears. It is concluded that the current supply of wild seed may be neither adequate nor sustainable for the future development of the industry, and that either improved coastal resource management, and/or alternative supply from hatchery production would be needed in the long term. |
| Year | 1998 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems(AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Hambrey, John Bernard; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Lin, Chang Kwei ;Bart, Amrit; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1998 |