Vietnam becomes first nation to successfully breed high-value amberjack

Vietnam has become the first country in the world to successfully breed the prized amberjack, a breakthrough achievement with significant implications for the nation’s aquaculture industry and the global seafood market.

The announcement was made by Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Lua, head of the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1, during a specialized session on animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, aquaculture, and fisheries inspection held on Saturday. Vietnam News reported.

The event was part of a national conference organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to implement Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Dr. Lua revealed that the institute recently succeeded for the first time in breeding amberjack in captivity.

This species is highly sought after in Japan, where it is a premium choice for dishes like sashimi and sushi.

With a market value of approximately VND1 million (US$38.5) per kilogram, amberjack is a cornerstone of Japan’s aquaculture industry, accounting for more than 50 percent of its farmed marine output.

Japan is the largest amberjack farming country in the world, producing about 150,000 metric tons of amberjack annually.

Amberjack is also farmed in Chile and Mexico.

Demand for the fish is growing in South Korea, the United States, and Europe.

Vietnam’s journey with amberjack began in 1991 with experimental farming at Nam Beach on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang, the capital city of central Vietnam, using wild-caught fries.

However, this model was unsustainable due to the dwindling supply of wild juveniles.

The recent breakthrough came as researchers observed that amberjack fry started accepting artificial feed from the 18th day of rearing, a crucial stage in the breeding process.

This shift from natural to formulated feed is considered a key technical hurdle in successful aquaculture.

The current stock of the fry is now 23 days old.

“This is the first time in the world that amberjack breeding has been successfully carried out, and it was done in Vietnam,” Dr. Lua confirmed.

The fish will now be raised to juvenile stage for future commercial farming trials.