(Honors Thesis under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Mittelstadt)

Abstract: Shrimp aquaculture expansion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta has driven significant mangrove loss, as traditional extensive farming involves clearing mangrove forests for pond construction, resulting in little to no mangrove coverage and reduced coastal protection and ecosystem services. Integrated mangrove-shrimp (IMS) farming, which requires 50-60% mangrove coverage within farm areas, has been promoted as a more sustainable and profitable alternative. However, adoption remains limited, with many farms operating below this required threshold. Using farm-level secondary data and qualitative interviews, this study estimates the short-term financial cost of transitioning to the required coverage rate and explores farmer perceptions of associated risks and barriers. Results indicate that transitioning to IMS costs farmers approximately 5.202 million VND (226.15 USD) per hectare, accounting for foregone profit and initial investment. These estimated costs correspond with farmer perceptions that financial and ecological risks make adoption unviable without external support.