Bioeconomics of Grouper, Serranidae: Epinephelinae, Culture in Vietnam

Abstract

This article presents technical and bioeconomic information on culture-based grow-out production of groupers in Vietnam.Grouper farming has good future potential as a viable alternative livelihood for fishers. It is found to be very profitable for cage farmers in northern Vietnam and marginally profitable for cage and pond farmers in central Vietnam. Productivity and total revenue are highest in the north, reflecting relatively high stocking rates, aquaculture area, and harvest prices. Cost per unit production is highest for centrally located cage farmers. The dominant cost sources for these farms are feed (40-60% of total costs) and, to a lesser extent, seed (20%) and labor (12-19%). The feed conversion ratios for these systems, where grouper are fed exclusively low-value finfish, is calculated to be 9 in the north and 12 in the center. It seems that improving the livelihood of grouper farmers in Vietnam is dependent on reducing their dependence on wild stocks for seed and feed, and increasing area and growout time for central farmers. If pellets are to be widely adopted by grouper farmers, perceptions regarding the poor adaptability, relatively slow growth rates compared with low-value finfish, and poor availability of pellets need to be overcome.

BIOECONOMICS OF COBIA,RACHYCENTRON CANADUM, CULTURE IN VIETNAM

“…This profitability is comparable with high-valued aquaculture species in Vietnam such as grouper (approximately 400-9,000 USD=year) and mud crab (2,000-7,000 USD=year), although lower than the profitability of lobster (50,000 USD=year) (Petersen et al, 2013a(Petersen et al, , 2013b. Profitability of cobia is high compared with Asian seabass (barramundi) (600-2,000USD=year), which has a similar price to cobia .…”

“…Depending on the region, overall, the value for money of cobia farming is similar to that of other low to medium-valued mariculture alternatives in Vietnam, such as Asian seabass (BCR $1.0-1.2) . However, the value for money is low compared with high-valued farmed species, such as grouper (BCR $1.1-1.8), mud crab (BCR $1.9-3.6) and lobster (BCR $2.1) (Petersen et al 2013a(Petersen et al , 2011b(Petersen et al , 2013b.…”

“…Seminal works include Clark (1985) and Anderson and Seijo (2010). Examples of where bioeconomic models have been used to analyzes aquaculture issues in Vietnam include Affholder et al (2010), Petersen et al (2013aPetersen et al ( , 2013b, Petersen andPhuong (2010, 2011), Petersen and Schilizzi (2010), Petersen et al (2007), and Sinh et al (2003).…”

A review of grouper (Family Serranidae: Subfamily Epinephelinae) aquaculture from a sustainability science perspective

“…Grouper culture in Viet Nam is mainly undertaken in the northern provinces of HaiPhong and QuangNinh, and the south‐central provinces of Phu Yen and KhanhHoa (Petersen et al . ). Grow‐out is undertaken in sea cages and in coastal ponds (Kongkeo et al .…”

“…; Petersen et al . ). As in other parts of Asia, ponds originally culturing shrimp have switched to grouper culture because of recurrent crop losses due to viral disease outbreaks (Petersen et al .…”