SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel Issue 19, December 2016 | Page 131

In the first phase of the project (2013 - 2016), around 2,000 shrimp farmer households in Ca Mau province received training and technical assistance to meet Naturland organic certification standards, which require a 50% mangrove cover on each farm. In addition, the project worked with processing and export companies and government authorities to develop stable market mechanisms and create an enabling policy environment. Key achievements include the effective protection and restoration mangrove forests, enhanced smallholder livelihoods, and improved coastal protection against storms and sea level rise. For its significant contributions in the Ca Mau province, the project was awarded two Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People’s Committee between 2013 and 2015.

The current phase (2016-2020) aims to replicate and scale up the sustainable integrated mangrove-shrimp farming model along the coasts of Ca Mau, Ben Tre, and Tra Vinh provinces, which together contain half the mangroves in the Mekong Delta. Phase II seeks to reach 5,000 shrimp farmer households (accumulated), involve three processing companies, and mainstream Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) on sustainable shrimp aquaculture into national and provincial development plans.

The project is implemented by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Today’s launch workshop will provide a space for local, regional and national stakeholders to reflect on past developments and discuss the way forward.

For more information about the project, please visit the SNV-website http://www.snv.org/project/mangroves-and-markets

Contact information: Nguyen Dao Tuyet Nga, Communication Officer at SNV Vietnam

E-mail: [email protected]

Photo: Processing organic shrimps in Minh Phu Seafood Corporation © IUCN Viet Nam

December 2016 - Sustainable Living

SEVENSEAS - 131