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Simulated Impacts of Climate Change on Current Farming Locations of Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus; Sauvage) in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

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Abstract

In Vietnam, culturing striped catfish makes an important contribution to the Mekong Delta’s economy. Water level rise during rainy season and salt intrusion during dry season affect the water exchange and quality for this culture. Sea level rise as a consequence of climate change will worsen these influences. In this study, water level rise and salt water intrusion for three sea level rise (SLR) scenarios (i.e., +30, +50, and +75 cm) were simulated. The results showed that at SLR +50, the 3-m-flood level would spread downstream and threaten farms located in AnGiang, DongThap and CanTho provinces. Rising salinity levels for SLR +75 would reduce the window appropriate for the culture in SocTrang and BenTre provinces, and in TienGiang’s coastal districts. Next to increasing dikes to reduce the impacts, the most tenable and least disruptive option to the farming community would be to shift to a salinity tolerant strain of catfish.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Aqua-climate project coordinated by the Network of Aquaculture Centres of Asia–Pacific (NACA), under the auspices of the Norwegian International Development Agency for funding part of our study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aquaculture, Nha Trang University, 2 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Str., Nha Trang City, Vietnam

    Anh L. Nguyen

  2. Department of Water Resources, Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Resources Geography, 1 Mac Dinh Chi Str, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Vinh H. Dang

  3. Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Anh L. Nguyen, Roel H. Bosma & Johan A. J. Verreth

  4. Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Droevendaals Steeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Rik Leemans

  5. School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, VIC, 3280, Australia

    Sena S. De Silva

Authors
  1. Anh L. Nguyen
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  2. Vinh H. Dang
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  3. Roel H. Bosma
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  4. Johan A. J. Verreth
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  5. Rik Leemans
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  6. Sena S. De Silva
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Correspondence to Anh L. Nguyen.

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Nguyen, A.L., Dang, V.H., Bosma, R.H. et al. Simulated Impacts of Climate Change on Current Farming Locations of Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus; Sauvage) in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. AMBIO 43, 1059–1068 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-014-0519-6

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