Benefits and risks of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming in fresh water areas in Long An Province

Abstract

White leg shrimp farming in freshwater districts is a spontaneous production activity; however, this husbandry has expanded sharply in Long An province recently. This study was carried out by surveying 30 shrimp farmers in two freshwater districts of Long An province, including Tan Thanh and Moc Hoa. The result show that there were 96.7% of surveyed farmers stated that white leg shrimp farming brings greater profit than other aquatic animals they reared before. Whereby, the biggest benefit obtained was the enhancement of farmer's profit. For the risks, also 80% of those farmers emphasized that white leg shrimp farming in this area would create potential risks and that is mainly environmental pollution and negative impacts of salt water expanding the surrounding environment.