(vasep.com.vn) Pangasius farming and export industry plays an important role in aquaculture economics in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta. However, the appearance of El Niño phenomenon and climate change has put great challenges on this field.

El Niño and the influence on Pangasius fingerling

El Niño is the phenomenon specified with the unusual warmth of the sea water surface’s temperature in the center, and the east of the Pacific Ocean, causing some changes in global’ s weather. In Vietnam, El Niño usually leads to lacking water and drought in the Mekong Delta. Lacking fresh water not only reduces the aquaculture area, but it also increases the risk of diseases in fish. The rise of water temperature in El Niño period can put fish under stress, declining the growth speed, and increasing the mortality rate.

The impact of farming and producing the Pangasius process.

In Vietnam, El Niño usually leads to a lack of water and drought in the Mekong Delta. According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, El Niño could decrease the rainfall between 25% and 50% compared to the average rainfall for many years, directly affecting the freshwater source for farming aquatic products.

Pangasius is a freshwater species that relies too much on the Tien and Hau rivers. Lacking fresh water not only reduces the aquaculture area but also increases the risk of diseases in fish. Besides, the rise of water temperature in El Niño can put fish under stress, declining the growth speed, and increasing the mortality rate.

The influence on Pangasius export

The reason for the decline of Pangasius production is the effects of El Niño, and climate change that result in the unstable supply, impacting on satisfying export contracts’ ability. Product quality will decline because of farming environment is unsecured, it can also decrease export’s value.

Climate change and long-term challenges

Climate change is resulting in several long-term weather challenges and sea levels. Mekong Delta, which is the main point of Pangasius farming, is seriously facing saltwater intrusion. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the dry season, saltwater intrusion might encroach inland from 50 to 70km, affecting around 40% of the Mekong Delta area. Saltwater makes water quality go down, causing difficulty for farming Pangasius originally required a freshwater environment.

Climate change also causes the frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena such as storms, floods, and drought. These changes lead to difficulty in the management of farming ponds, increasing production and risk costs for Fishman.

Adaptation solutions from the experiences of other countries

To cope with the above challenges, many countries have applied effective adaptation solutions: Transforming aquaculture models: Some European countries have adopted aquaculture models combined with renewable energy, such as using solar and wind energy, minimizing environmental impacts, and increasing economic efficiency; Monitoring and forecasting: Japan uses IoT and AI technology to monitor the water environment and forecast diseases, helping farmers adjust production activities in a timely manner.

El Niño and climate change are posing serious challenges to the world, in all sectors, including Vietnam's pangasius production and export industry. Proactively implementing adaptation and impact mitigation solutions is necessary to ensure the sustainable development of the industry in the future.