Published: 08 Apr 2025 | Last Updated: 08 Apr 2025 10:06:16

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has granted funding to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) as part of a crucial project researching the sustainability of mollusc aquaculture in southeast Asia. As a popular livelihood and key source of food supply, growth of the industry has the potential to support food security of Asian countries but faces societal, climate, cultural and commercial pressures. This research is therefore designed to help inform both system resilience and the sustainable growth of mollusc production.

Mollusc aquaculture is the practice of raising molluscs, such as oysters, mussels, and clams for food, and produces 20 million tonnes (USD 29.8 billion) of live biomass annually. The industry supports marginal farming communities and export trade, with Asia accounting for more than 95% of activity. As molluscs are inexpensive and nutritionally rich, expanding the industry could enhance food security in southeast Asia.

However, as a proportion of aquatic animal aquaculture, mollusc production has declined by nearly 10% since 2000. Producers are facing many challenges including climate change, disease, food safety and reliable access to high-quality seed. There are concerns about whether the industry can grow sustainably, and further research is needed to assess its viability. 

A consortium known as WAVES - ‘Working towards Adaptive and Versatile Environmental Sustainability’ - has been awarded funding by UKRI to support the equitable transition of mollusc aquaculture to more sustainable methods to enhance local food security and provide nutritional benefits for communities in southeast Asia.

The Consortium is led by the University of Southampton and consists of individuals from the RVC, the University of Stirling, Can Tho University, Marine and Fisheries Polytechnic of Jembrana, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Northumbria University and Newcastle University. Working with key implementation partners in the region, WorldFish and Research Institute for Aquaculture 1 (Vietnam), each member will focus on a different research element to explore mollusc aquaculture sustainability in southeast Asian countries.

The RVC will lead on research that will map the different systems of mollusc production in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia to provide a model for Asia more widely. This will include mapping the different stakeholders, relationships, influential factors, challenges and trends that make up current mollusc production. This will importantly provide both a visual and deep understanding of activities, livelihoods and climate change threats for mollusc producers in the regions.

Together the Consortium will then utilise this research to:

• Create a systems dynamic model and develop a scenario tool to forecast plausible futures for mollusc aquaculture.
• Generate data to support species diversification for climate resilience, promote hatchery development for a reliable supply of high-quality seed, and produce safe and nutritious food.
• Iterate and disseminate findings to develop context-sensitive roadmaps for future sustainable expansion of resilient mollusc aquaculture.

This project creates a UK-Asia alliance of researchers at the forefront of mollusc farming development, making direct contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals, including no hunger and decent work and economic growth for all. The research aims to establish new data that will provide vital information and encourage further investment in technology, farming operations and hatcheries in southeast Asia.

Dr Lucy Brunton, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Veterinary Epidemiology at the RVC, said:

“The RVC is leading the systems mapping of current mollusc production in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia to better understand activities, livelihoods and climate change threats. Such threats might include increased disease outbreaks in mollusc populations, decreased productivity and altering of land suitability for farming, which can all negatively impact on food safety and security and the livelihoods of farming communities.

“By better understanding these threats, this research will allow us to develop tools to plan for future sustainable expansion of mollusc aquaculture that is resilient to the impacts of climate change and therefore protect food security and livelihoods in the region.”

Professor Chris Hauton, Head of School at the University of Southampton and lead research institution, said:

“Climate change brings the prospect of higher sea temperatures, and changes to the distribution and timing of monsoonal systems and associated changes to the salinity of coastal waters.

“A small number of species make up the vast majority of mollusc farming across Asia, and there is growing concern as to the resilience of these culture systems in the face of such an uncertain future.

“The reliance on so few species also makes mollusc production vulnerable to climate shocks, outbreaks of disease, and other crop failures, which will be made more likely as temperatures increase.

“This information will not only help regional planners to think strategically about how best they can support mollusc farming into the future but also empower farmers to improve farming practices to produce high quality mollusc products in a sustainable and resilient way.”

Dr Andrew Desbois, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling, said:

“Mollusc farming has a low environmental footprint and by filtering seawater as they feed, molluscs enhance water quality in and around the farms. Taking steps to ensure production continues in a changing climate will help to make sure these highly nutritious foods will be available to consumers in the regions where they are farmed, and around the world.”

Notes to Editors

Media contacts

• Jasmin De Vivo – devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London. 
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada. 
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025. 
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences. 
• The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. 
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.