Bridging the Gap to True Superintensive Shrimp Farming: Pollution Control and Productivity Gains Using a Recirculating Biofilter System—A Case Study in Vietnam

ABSTRACT Superintensive shrimp farming, though well‐established in developed countries, remains difficult to adopt in Vietnam due to high investment costs and technical barriers. This study compared traditional intensive and locally adapted ‘super‐intensive’ shrimp farming among 30 households in Ben Tre province. Results revealed that current practices are only quasi–super‐intensive, with a 30% increase in stocking density but a tenfold rise in COD and BOD₅ and a fivefold increase in S 2− . To address these limitations, a recirculating aquaculture system using submerged fixed‐bed biofilters (SFBB‐RAS) was developed. Laboratory trials (1 m 3 /day) achieved up to 96% removal of sulphides and 75%–80% removal of organic and nitrogen pollutants under salinity of 10‰–15‰. A pilot‐scale 500‐m 3 /day system showed consistent treatment performance and improved shrimp survival (+13.5%) and growth (+25%). The findings demonstrate that SFBB‐RAS effectively bridges the gap toward true superintensive shrimp farming in Vietnam.