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Abstract
The study was carried out from November 2022 to August 2023 by the survey method for communes of Nha Phu lagoon including Ninh Ich, Ninh Loc and Ninh Ha in order to assess the role of pond aquaculture for local economic structure. The result indicated that pond aquaculture in study area has decreased in both the number of households participated and the area. However, pond farming activities in the area became diverse in terms of cultured species and farming methods depending on the condition of each household. The majority of households in the study area has reduced investment level, from intensive to either semi-intensive or improved extensive farming, and poly-culture method of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) with crab (Scylla spp.) and rabbit fish (Siganus spp.) has gradually become more popular. Households livelihood structure became diverse with many different activities with 2 to 3 sources of income including pond farming, fishing, agricultural activities, trading, working as worker... because pond aquaculture was not a stable income source any more to ensure households' livelihood.
Key words: Nha Phu lagoon, pond aquaculture, livelihood