The UK government has announced a grant of £3.5 million (over US$4.5 million) to develop an initiative that provides digital tools supporting efficient and sustainable aquaculture in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region, according to the British Embassy in Vietnam.

British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew made the announcement on Monday during his official visit to the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling in the UK.

This initiative, known as the AquaSoS project, will be implemented by the university with the aim of addressing challenges related to pollution, diseases, and climate change that threaten the region's fisheries sector.

Ambassador Frew emphasized that the UK government's funding will bolster the project, facilitating the development of digital tools to tackle the escalating challenges posed by climate change.

This support aligns with efforts to assist Vietnam in building more sustainable and resilient food systems.

Led by Professor Simon MacKenzie, head of the aquaculture department at the University of Stirling, the AquaSoS project will utilize data from satellites, water quality sensors, and laboratory analyses to tackle challenges such as pollution, climate change, and disease. 

The goal is to create a digital platform that assists policymakers, scientists, and businesses in the fisheries sector to balance economic development with environmental protection. 

Professor MacKenzie noted that the Mekong Delta is a region with high aquaculture production but is heavily affected by climate change, water pollution, and diseases. 

“We have chosen to develop our AquaSoS framework in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam because there is multi-species production at scale, but an increasing burden of infectious diseases,” the U.S.-based Global Seafood Alliance cited MacKenzie.

He highlighted that infectious diseases in Asian and global aquaculture pose a continuous threat to sustainable production, and the AquaSoS framework is designed to address this problem. 

This initiative is part of the UK government's £12 million (US$15.6 million) scheme, launched through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the UK's national funding agency for science and research – to support Southeast Asian countries in developing sustainable fisheries, increasing resilience to climate change and ensuring food security. 

During the visit, Ambassador Frew also discussed long-term cooperation in aquaculture research in Vietnam with leaders and scientists at the University of Stirling. 

He acknowledged that the university's research has positively contributed to the livelihoods of people in the Mekong region for decades, especially in combating pangasius diseases and antibiotic resistance.

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