In August 2025, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), in collaboration with the Dat Mui and Tam Giang Protective Forest Management Boards, Nam Can Seafood Import-Export Company (SEANAMICO), Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Service Joint Stock Company (CASES), and other local partners, organized three training courses for six groups of ecological shrimp farming households on “Ecological Aquaculture According to International Standards”. The training was conducted under the framework of the project “Strengthened climate resilience and sustainable income generation for mangrove forest-dependent vulnerable communities” (VM077). 

During the sessions, local farmers were guided on ecological shrimp farming techniques that meet international standards, including integrated multi-species farming such as shrimp, crabs, and blood cockles, with strict compliance with environmental protection regulations. At the same time, participants were updated on the latest international market standards to help maintain existing certifications for ecological shrimp products and enhance competitiveness in export markets. 

Notably, representatives from SEANAMICO and CASES – two companies engaged in purchasing and exporting ecological shrimp – shared directly about technical criteria, evaluation processes, and cooperation opportunities within the value chain. The training attracted active participation from households in the project area, with a significant proportion of women, reflecting their increasingly important role in both household livelihoods and natural resource management. Participants engaged in lively discussions, shared practical farming experiences, and expressed their aspirations to apply ecological farming models aligned with international standards to increase product value, expand markets, and secure sustainable incomes.

Beyond knowledge transfer, the program also served as a bridge connecting farmers, enterprises, and management agencies, gradually forming an ecological aquaculture supply chain closely linked to mangrove forest protection. This dual solution not only improves household incomes but also contributes to conserving mangrove ecosystems amid the intensifying impacts of climate change. 

Through this activity, SRD and its partners hope to enhance community awareness and capacity in linking mangrove forest protection with ecological livelihood development, thereby strengthening climate resilience and contributing to sustainable development goals in the Mekong Delta.