HCMC – The University of Stirling has introduced a £3.5 million initiative aimed at developing a digital tool to support sustainable aquaculture in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
The project was announced during UK Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew’s visit to the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling, a globally recognized center for aquaculture research.
Named AquaSoS, the initiative is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and led by Professor Simon MacKenzie, head of the Institute of Aquaculture (IoA). The research will be conducted in the Mekong Delta, a region known for its large-scale multi-species aquaculture but increasingly affected by infectious diseases, pollution and climate change.
The interdisciplinary project will harness expertise from Stirling’s Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES) and utilize satellite data, sensors, and laboratory research to address key challenges in the sector.
AquaSoS aims to develop a digital tool that will help protect aquatic ecosystems and promote sustainable aquaculture by equipping scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders with real-time data to balance environmental protection with food production.
“We have chosen to develop our AquaSoS framework in the Mekong Delta because it supports large-scale multi-species production but faces a rising burden of infectious diseases,” said Professor Simon MacKenzie. “These diseases pose a significant threat to sustainable aquaculture worldwide, and AquaSoS is designed to tackle this challenge.”
AquaSoS is one of four projects announced under a £12 million UKRI initiative aimed at enhancing sustainable aquaculture in Southeast Asia, addressing climate change, food security, and community resilience.
The projects are funded through the UK Government’s International Science Partnership Fund Official Development Assistance budget and are delivered by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
