Aerial view of large shrimp farms in the coastal region of Giao Thuy, Vietnam.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
The UK Government's research and innovation funding body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a £12 million funding programme aimed at supporting sustainable and resilient aquaculture systems across south-east Asia.
The initiative, which will be implemented in the major global aquaculture production countries Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, aims to address key industry challenges, including the impacts of climate change, disease management, and food security, through a series of interdisciplinary research projects.
Funded through the UK Government’s International Science Partnership Fund Official Development Assistance budget, the programme is being delivered by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
Announcing the programme, Dr Amanda Collis, Executive Director, Research Strategy and Programmes at BBSRC, said the funded projects aim to contribute to more sustainable practices and improved outcomes for both local communities and the environment.
"I’m delighted that BBSRC and NERC have been able to invest in four sustainable aquaculture projects, building partnerships between researchers in the UK and Southeast Asia through the investment of £12 million of the UK Government’s Official Development Assistance budget," Collis stated in a press release.
"Our shared intention is to deliver a more productive, healthy, resilient and sustainable food system and this interdisciplinary programme on aquaculture systems take us a step closer to realising this ambition," she added.
The initiative encourages collaboration between UK-based researchers and international partners, including local governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and community groups.
Led by the University of Stirling, the AquaSoS project is developing a digital decision-support tool that integrates satellite, sensor, and laboratory data to address issues such as pollution, climate stress, and disease in aquaculture. Focusing on areas including Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, the project aims to support sustainable environmental management while promoting food production. It also includes support for women in science through the SE Asia Women in Science Research Network.
Another key project highlighted by UKRI is the WAVES Consortium, led by the University of Southampton, focusing on mollusc farming in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with an emphasis on improving production practices, managing disease, and addressing climate-related risks. WAVES aims to enhance hatchery operations and develop predictive tools to support farming communities and ensure long-term viability.
Aiming to support the development of a sustainable seaweed industry, the GLOBALSEAWEED-PROTECT project is being led by the Natural History Museum, UK. The project focuses on improving crop resilience, implementing biosecurity strategies, and restoring wild seaweed habitats, in collaboration with farmers and policymakers.
The fourth funded project highlighted by UKRI, "Low-Cost Tools for Shrimp Farmers", is led by the University of the West of Scotland, and aims to support small-scale shrimp farmers in Vietnam and Thailand, by focusing on the creation of affordable, easy-to-use tools to monitor water quality and detect disease outbreaks. By improving early warning systems, the project seeks to help farmers minimise losses and respond effectively to environmental challenges.
