Analysis of the ecosystem services of mangrove to aquaculture and fisheries in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam - Mangrove and Fishery

In this study, which will cover six provinces in south Vietnam, we expect to find out the optimal level of mangrove coverage for shrimp farming systems, considering the benefits of mangrove on fishery. Besides, investigation of the determinants of the behavior of converting mangrove to other uses will provide useful information for policy makers towards a better management and conservation of mangrove forests. The project has the following research objectives: (1) Examine the impacts of mangrove on shrimp farming, specifically the impacts of mangrove coverage on shrimp farming productivity and profitability; (2) Examine the impacts of mangrove on the risk of shrimp farming; (3) Estimate the mangrove-fishery linkage; (4) Investigate the determinants of mangrove conversion.

We collected data in field trips to villages across the southern coast of Vietnam. The first wave of data was collected from August 2014 to April 2015. The second wave was conducted in 2017, from September to December. Our final sample includes 950 observations from 431 households living and fishing across 11 communes from six provinces including Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh. Two sources of mangrove forest areas of communes are used. One is reported by the Forestry Management, and the other is calculated using satellite images.

本研究覆盖越南南部六个省份，旨在结合红树林（Mangrove）对渔业的增益效应，探明适配虾类养殖系统的最优红树林覆盖水平。此外，针对红树林向其他用地转化的行为决定因素开展调查，可为政策制定者优化红树林森林管理与保护工作提供科学参考。本项目设定如下四项研究目标：（1）解析红树林对虾类养殖的影响，具体为红树林覆盖水平对虾类养殖产量与经济效益的影响；（2）解析红树林对虾类养殖风险的影响；（3）估算红树林与渔业之间的关联强度；（4）调查红树林转化行为的决定因素。

研究团队于越南南部沿海各村镇开展实地调研以采集数据。第一轮数据采集工作于2014年8月至2015年4月完成，第二轮数据采集于2017年9月至12月实施。最终有效样本涵盖薄寮省、槟椥省、金瓯省、坚江省、朔庄省及茶荣省共6个省份11个公社的431户从事养殖与捕捞生产的农户，累计获得950条观测记录。本研究采用两类公社红树林面积数据来源：一类由林业管理部门提供，另一类通过卫星影像解算获取。