2026 shrimp season in the Mekong Delta starts early: Growth expected amid multiple challenges
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
In the western coastal region, early salinity intrusion has enabled farmers to access water, prepare ponds, and stock shrimp more easily, but it has also put pressure on preparation timelines. Alongside these advantages, several risks have already emerged at the beginning of the season, including unseasonal rains causing damage to farming areas, declining farm-gate shrimp prices compared to late 2025, and rising costs for feed and seed.
In addition, diseases such as EHP (Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei) have begun to appear, affecting shrimp growth and production efficiency. In response, the fisheries sector recommends that farmers focus on selecting high-quality seed, managing pond environments carefully, and applying biosecurity measures to reduce risks and improve overall farming performance.