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

• Published in: Ambio 2014-12, Vol.43 (8), p.1059-1068
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Anh L, Dang, Vinh H, Bosma, Roel H, Verreth, Johan A. J, Leemans, Rik, De Silva, Sena S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Animals; Aquaculture; Atmospheric Sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Calibration; Canals; Catfish; Catfish farms; Catfishes; Climate Change; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change; Coastal zone; Culture; dams; Deltas; Dikes; dispersal; Dry season; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Farming; farming systems; farms; Fish culture; Floods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hydraulics; Hydrology; intrusion; Meteorology; Pangasianodon hypophthalmus; Physical Geography; Rainy season; River deltas; river-delta; Rivers; Saline water; Saline water intrusion; Salinity; Salinity effects; salinity tolerance; saltwater intrusion; Sea level; Sea level rise; Sea water; Seasons; Simulation; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Vietnam; Water; Water exchange; Water levels; wet season
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-014-0519-6

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.