PELAKITA.ID – Shrimp farming has evolved from modest backyard ponds to industrial-scale operations spanning thousands of hectares. Driven by rising global demand for seafood, countries have invested in large-scale shrimp production not only to supply food domestically but also to generate export revenue, create employment, and boost coastal economies.
Examining some of the world’s largest shrimp projects offers lessons for anyone planning aquaculture ventures and highlights the broader benefits for nations.
1. National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA) – Saudi Arabia
On the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, NAQUA stands as one of the largest integrated shrimp farming operations in the world. It combines nurseries, semi-closed intensive ponds, inland ponds, and processing facilities under a fully traceable production system.
Covering approximately 4,485 hectares of water area across 65 kilometers of coastline, NAQUA has an annual production capacity of around 90,000 metric tons of shrimp.
The project benefits Saudi Arabia on multiple fronts. First, it diversifies the economy beyond oil and gas, in line with Vision 2030, by developing a high-value food export sector.
Second, it boosts domestic food security and reduces dependence on imports. Third, it creates employment opportunities for thousands of workers, while the integrated system ensures that value is retained domestically through processing and packaging.
Finally, international certifications such as ASC and BAP allow NAQUA’s products to access premium global markets, enhancing foreign exchange earnings and the country’s global aquaculture profile.
For any large-scale aquaculture project, NAQUA underscores several critical points. Vertical integration—from nurseries to processing—is essential to maximize value capture. High-tech infrastructure, including water management systems and biosecurity measures, ensures production reliability.
Meeting international standards is crucial for accessing global markets. Finally, site selection matters: clean seawater access, coastal proximity, and environmental safeguards are key for sustainability.
2. Cà Mau Province – Vietnam
Cà Mau Province in the Mekong Delta exemplifies large-scale, area-based shrimp farming. Covering over 427,000 hectares of pond area, the province is the country’s largest shrimp hub and a major contributor to Vietnam’s export economy.
Farmers employ diverse models, including traditional extensive systems, integrated shrimp-rice rotation, and shrimp-mangrove models. Increasingly, intensive and semi-intensive systems are adopted to raise productivity.
The benefits to Vietnam are significant. Shrimp farming creates livelihoods for thousands of households, generates billions of dollars in export revenue, and promotes value addition through processing and certification.
By integrating shrimp with rice or mangroves, farms improve environmental sustainability while maintaining productivity. The project demonstrates how a provincial-scale aquaculture strategy can leverage land and water resources for economic and social development.
Key lessons from Cà Mau include the importance of diversified farming models tailored to local conditions, the value of meeting international standards for global market access, and the critical role of infrastructure—from irrigation to processing facilities.
Equally important are environmental considerations and climate adaptation, including mangrove conservation and disease management, as well as the collaboration of government, cooperatives, farmers, and enterprises to ensure the sector’s long-term success.
3. Indonesia’s Modern Shrimp Pond Projects
Indonesia is undertaking one of the most ambitious modern shrimp-farming programs in the world. The government plans to develop multiple modern shrimp farming zones, including a flagship 1,800-hectare site in Waingapu. These projects aim to increase national vannamei shrimp production to two million tons annually, elevating Indonesia’s position in the global shrimp market.
The benefits for Indonesia are clear. Export capacity will increase, foreign exchange earnings will rise, and modernized systems will help small-scale and traditional farmers upgrade their operations, improving efficiency and income.
Infrastructure investments—including ports, water systems, lighting, and processing facilities—will support regional economic development. By integrating social, economic, and environmental considerations, these projects aim to maximize benefits while minimizing ecological risks.
Lessons for any project of this scale include the necessity of comprehensive planning, including zoning, water access, environmental safeguards, and community involvement.
Modernization should be inclusive, ensuring small-scale farmers are not left behind. Projects must balance growth with sustainability, considering infrastructure, biosecurity, and resilience against climate and market risks. Regulatory support and policy alignment are essential to enable efficient, profitable, and sustainable operations.
Key Considerations for Every Shrimp Project
Whether a pond spans one hectare or thousands, the elements that determine success are largely the same:
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Site Selection & Water Access: Reliable seawater or brackish water with proper pumping, quality, and biosecurity controls.
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System Design & Infrastructure: Ponds, nurseries, semi-closed or intensive systems, processing facilities, and logistics must be well-integrated.
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Farming Model: Extensive, improved extensive, intensive, or zero-discharge systems each have different costs, risks, and yields.
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Certification & Market Access: Meeting standards like ASC, BAP, or GlobalGAP is critical to accessing premium international markets.
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Value Chain Integration: Hatcheries, feed supply, grow-out, processing, packaging, and export must be coordinated to capture maximum value.
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Environmental Sustainability: Waste management, disease control, and integrated farming (mangroves, rice) protect ecosystems and ensure long-term viability.
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Socioeconomic Benefits: Projects should benefit local communities via employment, training, and equitable income distribution.
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Risk Management: Address disease, climate change, and market volatility through planning, monitoring, and insurance.
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Government & Regulatory Support: Clear zoning, environmental regulations, and infrastructure support are crucial for success.
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Innovation & Monitoring: Technology, R&D, genetics, feed optimization, and digital monitoring enhance competitiveness.
Why Large Shrimp Projects Matter
Large shrimp farming operations contribute to export revenue and foreign exchange, diversify national economies, create jobs in rural and coastal regions, strengthen food security, and promote value addition. They also encourage environmental and social innovation when projects incorporate sustainable practices like integrated shrimp-rice or shrimp-mangrove farming.
Conclusion
The examples of NAQUA in Saudi Arabia, Cà Mau in Vietnam, and Indonesia’s modern pond initiatives illustrate what is possible when shrimp farming is treated as a strategic sector.
These projects show that modern shrimp farming is not just about digging ponds; it requires integrating infrastructure, value chains, technology, regulation, environmental management, and community development.
For any shrimp project—small or large—the question is not only how many ponds are built, but how well the entire system supporting those ponds is designed. A successful project combines robust inputs, efficient processes, clear market access, sustainability, and inclusivity. When planned carefully, shrimp farming can be a powerful engine for national economic growth, rural development, and global trade.
References
References for National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA) – Saudi Arabia
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NAQUA Core Business – Shrimp Business page: Details grow-out units comprising 80 nurseries and 77 super-intensive ponds; total water area 4,485 hectares over 65 km of coastline; annual production capacity 90,000 metric tons.
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NAQUA About page: Highlights NAQUA’s role in economic diversification under Vision 2030 and its status as one of the world’s largest integrated marine farms.
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Industry report: Notes investment stake in NAQUA and reiterates figures for water area, nurseries, and production capacity.
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News report: Mentions certification (BAP) and size of operation, including employees and shrimp/fish volumes.
References for Cà Mau Province – Vietnam
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National news report: Cà Mau manages over 455,000 hectares of aquaculture, with 427,000 hectares dedicated to shrimp; includes export turnover figures.
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Industry association report: Reports shrimp farming area of 278,600 hectares and output of 242,000 tons.
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Regional news report: Provides 280,000 hectares shrimp farming target, export value goals, and broader development plans.
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National news agency report: Describes integrated shrimp-rice and shrimp-forest farming models and outlook for the sector.