On November 27, 2025, in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province, representative from the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) attended the workshop “Asian Fish Welfare Network in Nha Trang, Vietnam”. The event was organized by the Institute of Aquaculture – Stirling University, in collaboration with the Institute of Aquaculture – Nha Trang University. The workshop aimed to strengthen capacity, share experiences, and exchange best practices for enhancing the welfare of farmed fish in Vietnam and across Asia. It also provided a valuable platform for participants to exchange information, build professional networks, and define the roles of key stakeholders in promoting sustainable aquaculture through improved animal welfare standards.

The main theme of the workshop is improving the welfare of farmed animal for the benefits of Vietnamese aquaculture: Good welfare is better business. The workshop aims to focus on developing practical actions to support the adoption of farmed fish welfare practices across the entire aquaculture value chain in Vietnam.

Photo: Overview of the workshop

The event brought together more than 50 delegates from research institutes, universities, NGOs, businesses, and both domestic and international experts in the fields of fisheries and animal welfare.

Photo: Delegates are participating in the workshop in Nha Trang

During the workshop, participants shared various approaches to animal welfare and well-being for farmed fish. Representatives from the University of Stirling presented on the potential application of fish welfare standards, risk assessment tools, and the identification of priority stages for improvement within the aquaculture production process. Speakers also provided insights into international market standards, importing country regulations, and the importance of strengthening the linkages between stakeholders in the value chain to enhance the fish welfare.

Representing MCD, Ms. Than Thi Hien, Vice Director, introduced the initiative: “Technical support on farmed fish and shrimp welfare for improving production efficiency and contributing to sustainable aquaculture development in Mekong Delta, Vietnam”. The workshop further introduced recent research on pangasius welfare by Fresh Studio and Scale Welfare, alongside Australis’s commercial approach to improving the welfare of marine-farmed barramundi in Khanh Hoa province.

Photo: Ms. Than Thi Hien – Vice Director of MCD is presenting at the workshop

The activity is implemented under the service contract titled “Technical support on farmed fish and shrimp welfare for improving production efficiency and contributing to sustainable aquaculture development in Mekong Delta, Vietnam”.