Over 20-21 December, 2012, stakeholders from throughout Viet Nam and beyond came together to discuss the future of responsible small-scale shrimp aquaculture in Viet Nam. Convened as part of the Responsible Shrimp Culture Improvement Project (RSCIP) in Viet Nam, the conference attracted 100 delegates from around the country and around the world, as well as significant media coverage in Viet Nam. The commitment and engagement of the participants spoke volumes about the importance of mapping a sustainable future for their communities, the ecosystems on which they depend and environments in which they live.

Whether discussing the benefits and challenges of pursuing certification as a small-scale farmer, or considering how to improve access to inputs and balance the equity of risk and reward in the shrimp value chain, the conference discussions and presentations produced constructive and informative exchanges between the diverse stakeholders involved.

There was a diversity of views expressed and through this dialogue, strong points of consensus emerged during the conference. Ecological sustainability is crucial to both the commercial success of the industry and the resilience of aquaculture communities; certification provides a tool for apportioning costs and risks through the supply chain more equitably; small-scale farmers need more assistance to move to a more sustainable future. Perhaps the strongest point of consensus to arise from the conference was that no single actor in the chain can do it by themselves. Processors, producers, local communities, consumers, retailers, donors, NGOs and governments need to collaborate to achieve a future for responsible small-scale shrimp farming.

The inputs from the conference attendees have further convinced consortium partners that it is at the intersection of small scale shrimp farming and mangroves where the greatest economic, environmental and social benefits can be achieved.

With the conference now over, the organizing consortium of Oxfam Novib, IUCN Netherlands, SNV, MCD and IUCN Viet Nam are now moving on to Phase 2 of the project, hoping to build on the networks, shared experiences and positive energy engendered by the conference.