Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper – Image: Dang Lua
Vietnam has officially become the first country in the world to successfully breed amberjack (cá cam), a high-value marine species prized in Japanese cuisine for sashimi and sushi, with market prices reaching VND 1 million/kg(~USD 40/kg).
This milestone was announced by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Lua, Director of the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1 (RIA1), during a technical session on livestock, veterinary, fisheries, and fishery surveillance, held as part of the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
A Global Breakthrough in Marine Aquaculture
Dr. Lua revealed that RIA1 has recently succeeded in artificial reproduction of amberjack. Previously, the Institute had also bred four-barbel drum (Nibea spp.), a native marine species. These achievements represent a significant scientific breakthrough, opening doors for industrial-scale marine aquaculture in Vietnam.
Amberjack is farmed in countries such as Chile and Mexico, but its most important market is Japan, where it accounts for over 50% of total marine aquaculture output. Japan is also the world’s largest amberjack producer, farming 150,000 tons/year, representing 90% of global production.
Due to its high quality and use in premium sashimi and sushi, amberjack is in strong demand across Japan, Korea, the U.S., and Europe.
Vietnam’s Native Amberjack: From Scarcity to Success
Although amberjack is native to Vietnam, it was first trial-farmed in 1991 using wild-caught juveniles in Son Tra Peninsula (Da Nang). However, production remained unstable due to dependence on wild seed, which has steadily declined.
In the current study, juvenile amberjack began successfully accepting formulated feed by day 18 of rearing, a critical technical milestone that greatly improves the viability of hatchery-based production.
“We now have 23-day-old amberjack fry in our facility. This makes Vietnam the first country globally to have successfully bred amberjack in captivity,” Dr. Lua stated.
“We are continuing to rear them to fingerling size for future commercial grow-out trials.”
Global Competitors Still Lag Behind
Despite efforts, Japan and China have yet to succeed in breeding amberjack artificially. The growing scarcity of wild seed highlights the urgency for a hatchery-based solution. Vietnam’s achievement puts it in a strong position to lead the high-value marine fish segment.
Potential of Four-Barbel Drum for Export
Regarding the four-barbel drum, Dr. Lua noted that while initial successes have been achieved in hatchery and pilot farming, commercial-scale production is still limited due to the need to refine grow-out technology and develop domestic and export markets.
To elevate amberjack and drum into key export-oriented species, Dr. Lua proposed:
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Continued R&D to optimize hatchery protocols and rearing conditions for Vietnam’s environment
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Improvements in breeding technology (e.g., multiple spawning cycles per year)
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Development of species-specific formulated feeds to reduce FCR and shorten grow-out cycles
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Launching a national-scale program for drum aquaculture development for export, with enterprise participation
National R&D Vision: Marine Species as Strategic Targets
Dr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries, affirmed the ministry’s direction to prioritize:
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Long-term R&D on fast-growing, disease-resistant, climate-adaptive species
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Industrial aquaculture of marine fish and large-surface freshwater farming
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Seaweed cultivation and processing
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Epidemiological studies for high-value cultured species
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National Product Programs for shrimp, pangasius, and additional marine species
Vietnam’s success in breeding amberjack for the first time globally not only affirms its scientific capacity, but also opens a new chapter in sustainable marine aquaculture and seafood export potential.