OVERVIEW

The Early Intervention Systems for Sustainable Aquaculture in Viet Nam and Thailand project aims to deliver smallholder shrimp farming communities with low-cost, low-technology solutions to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, water quality issues, and environmental challenges they face. ​

Our collaboration of institutions will work alongside partners and stakeholders in Viet Nam and Thailand to research, design, test and refine solutions than can be readily taken up by farmers in these contexts, with application across Southeast Asia, to future-proof shrimp and similar pond-system aquaculture practices, supporting sustainable livelihoods and development. ​

Fast facts

  • Shrimp aquaculture is one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic sectors – vital to livelihoods, food systems and socio-economic development. ​
  • The overwhelming majority of shrimp farms are small-scale and family-run, with more limited access to capital and financial services, high technology solutions, and infrastructure. ​
  • Changing environmental patterns and increasing disease outbreaks impact farm production and quality, mounting pressure on lower-income producers, and creating uncertainty across the value chain. ​
  • Existing high-technology solutions for monitoring and intervention require significant investments that are not suited to most shrimp farmers needs and resources.​

Project Collaborators

  • UWS
  • University of Strathclyde
  • James Hutton Institute
  • Can Tho University
  • Vidyashirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC)
  • Aston University ​

Project partners

  • Skretting
  • Phileo

Supporting and funding

  • UKRI BBSRC
  • UK International Science Partnership Fund

Research Areas

UWS, University of Strathclyde, Can Tho University, Aston University

Generate new knowledge: collect lab, experimental and field data on shrimp health using novelphysiological and behavioural measures.​

University of Strathclyde, VISTEC ​

Design innovative solutions: use data to design low-cost, electrochemical (bio)sensors toquantify water quality, Vibrio load and shrimp health parameters for rapid, pond-side monitoringand intervention. ​

James Hutton Institute ​

Develop market-ready tools: create health and climate models to predict poor water quality, disease outbreaks, and develop low-tech toolkits that can be used real-time by farmers to future-proof aquaculture practices.

Can Tho University 

WP4 Engage end-users: use feedback from farmers and sector stakeholders to design gender-sensitive, contextually-relevant tools that have demand and broad application.

Project Team

Professor Katherine Sloman, Principal Investigator, University of West of Scotland

Dr Mhairi Alexander, Co-Investigator, University of West of Scotland

Professor Fiona Henriquez-Mui, Co-Investigator, University of Strathclyde

Professor Damion Corrigan, Co-Investigator, University of Strathclyde

Professor Rupert Hough, Co-Investigator, James Hutton Institute

Professor Huynh Viet Khai, Co-Investigator, Can ThoUniversity 

Professor Bui Thi Bich Hang, Co-Investigator, Can ThoUniversity 

Professor Albert Schulte, Co-Investigator, VISTEC 

Professor Wipa Suginta, Co-Investigator, VISTEC 

Dr Thana Thaweeskulchai, Co-Investigator, VISTEC

Professor Jose Alcaraz Calero, Co-Investigator, Aston University

Dr Katharine Clayton, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of West of Scotland​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Dr Ronnie Mooney, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Strathclyde

Dr Veerappan Mani, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Strathclyde

Dr Mads Troldborg​​​​​, Research and Innovation Associate, James Hutton Institute

Dr Susanna Molkanen​, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, James Hutton Institute

Dr Tran Thi My Duyen, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Can Tho University 

Dr Huynh Thi Dan Xuan, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Can Tho University 

Nguyen Bao Trung, Research Assistant, Can Tho University 

Huynh Van Hien, Research Assistant, Can Tho University

Waswan Prempiji​, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Vistec 

Thanakorn Hussana, Research Assistant, Vistec​

​​Rachel Carrigan, Research Project Manager, University of West of Scotland 

Chanunchida Polpakdee, Project Coordinator, Vistec

Dang Thuy Mai Thy, Project Administrator, Can Tho University 

Kawin Loha, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Vistec

Kamonwan Chatree​​, Research Assistant, Vistec​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Publications / outputs

To follow

CONTACT DETAILS

Professor Kath Sloman

University of West of Scotland

Email address:  Naeem.Ramzan@uws.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 141 848 3648

Viet Nam Contact

Professor Bui Thi Bich Hang

Can Tho University  

Email address:

Telephone:

Thailand Contact

Chanunchida Polpakdee

Vistec

Email address:

Telephone: 

Last updated: 30/10/2025