Mariculture: Sustaining Ocean Life for Future Generations

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a press conference on the afternoon of March 25 for the Sustainable Development Conference for Mariculture - Insights from Quang Ninh, under the theme "Mariculture: Sustaining Ocean Life for Future Generations."

The press conference was co-hosted by Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper; Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, General Director of Quang Ninh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

A large-scale event

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach affirmed: "This event will be one of the largest and most significant conferences on mariculture to be held in Vietnam. The conference is expected to be held annually in the future, with the participation of various domestic and international businesses interested in investing in logistics infrastructure to support industrial mariculture."

The event organizers believe that Minister Le Minh Hoan's message of: "Mariculture: Sustaining Ocean Life for Future Generations" will help media agencies promote the significance of the conference, thereby affirming Vietnam's international commitment to preserving marine ecosystems and ensuring the sustainable livelihoods of its people.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Vietnam possesses significant natural advantages for the development of marine economy. Additionally, mariculture has been identified by the government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a priority field of development, as specified under Decision No. 1664 issued by the Prime Minister on October 4, 2021. Accordingly, the Decision approved the development project for mariculture in Vietnam until 2030, with a vision towards 2045.

However, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach believes that the development of mariculture in Vietnam faces several challenges in terms of policy and mechanism, scientific and technological factors, production linkage, investment resource, and the issuance of production unit codes for sustainable mariculture development.

"With the aim of establishing a comprehensive view of Vietnam's mariculture, including its potential, advantages, difficulties, challenges, and exploring solutions, the Sustainable Development Conference for Mariculture - Insights from Quang Ninh will act as a bridge for stakeholders to jointly assess and evaluate the state of mariculture in Vietnam. The most important goal of the conference is to contribute to the development of sustainable mariculture," Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach shared with the press.

Key focus areas for mariculture development in Quang Ninh province

Regarding the potential and development directions for local mariculture, Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, General Director of Quang Ninh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmed that the province possesses significant advantages for the development of marine economy and aquaculture, with over 2,000 islands, a coastline stretching 250 kilometers from Mong Cai to Quang Yen, 40,000 hectares of intertidal flats, over 20,000 hectares of estuaries, bays, among others.

Quang Ninh's total area of aquaculture reached nearly 42,300 hectares in 2023; including nearly 32,100 hectares of inland aquaculture area and 10,200 hectares of mariculture area. The province's total aquaculture yield reached over 175,000 tons in the same year, with over 81,600 tons from fishing activities and over 93,700 tons from aquaculture. Additionally, aquacultural production value reached over 6,900 billion Vietnamese dong, with an added value of 3,900 billion Vietnamese dong, accounting for nearly 50% of the total value of the agriculture and rural development sector.

In order to further enhance local mariculture in the near future, Quang Ninh province will focus on issuing the Sustainable Mariculture Development Plan; improving regulations and standards for mariculture; investing in and synchronizing mariculture infrastructure; establishing support policies to encourage and mobilize local households to switch to large-scale mariculture and apply scientific advancements.

Additionally, the province will prioritize allocating select marine areas to organizations and individuals capable of exploiting marine resources; enhancing capacity for the management and training of skilled personnel; developing mariculture in conjunction with other economic sectors such as tourism to maximize and exploit multiple values; attracting major investors to lead the value chain of the aquaculture sector.

Regarding the upcoming conference, Mr. Nguyen Minh Son emphasized that the event aims to accelerate the implementation progress of Project 1664 on mariculture in the province; highlight the state of mariculture globally and domestically; implement mariculture planning; establish procedures for environmental impact assessment, licensing, and allocation of marine areas for aquaculture in Quang Ninh in the near future.

The conference is also an opportunity for Quang Ninh province to introduce its potential, strengths, mechanisms, and policies to attract investment for the development of mariculture towards an industrial, modern, and multi-value direction. Additionally, the event can be a platform for the province to seek consultation from domestic and international experts, scientists, and businesses, with the aim of organizing sustainable mariculture development in the near future.

Furthermore, the conference will announce the marine areas designated for mariculture investment, and sign MOUs for cooperation in mariculture development with strategic investors both domestically and internationally. The conference will also address existing challenges and obstacles in Vietnam's legal framework regarding the implementation of mariculture, as well as potential solutions.

Demand for insurance in mariculture

In a response to insurance policies for the maricultural sector, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan stated that Vietnam has implemented a pilot program for shrimp and pangasius insurance. In the long term, the program will serve as a foundation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and related departments and agencies to support mariculture businesses in registering for suitable insurance packages.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan hopes that the Vietnam Mariculture Association will contribute to and collaborate on developing standards and criteria for mariculture cages, thereby providing a basis for establishing suitable insurance mechanisms and policies. He emphasized that this task must be deployed immediately as mariculture is considered a high-risk investment.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Mariculture Association, cited Norway's approach to the maricultural sector as a potential model, "In Norway, companies have to bid for mariculture areas, and these areas may even be used as collateral to finance mariculture. Consequently, Vietnam may need to consider the feasibility of this approach to create a conducive environment for mariculture development."

Mr. Dung believes that establishing a strong connection between stakeholders within the mariculture supply chain will be more cohesive if marine areas are regarded as an asset of coastal fishermen communities or businesses.

Multi-value integration

In response to the zoning of mariculture areas and their management by businesses, Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, emphasized that the province aims to prioritize the sustainable development of the maricultural sector.

Mr. Son highlighted that Quang Ninh's goal is to attract investment and create new products for coastal tourism by utilizing widely available resources. Quang Ninh has identified its advantages in developing the maricultural sector, with the principle of avoiding conflicts with the tourism industry and creating added value.

On the other hand, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan believes that Quang Ninh's plan for mariculture development is aimed at improving the lives of farmers, protecting marine areas, and developing the fishing industry.

Consequently, the conference is an opportunity for participants to study new mariculture experiences and technologies from domestic and international businesses and organizations. This effort can lead to innovative ideas and approaches to guide local production.

Mr. Luan suggested that the development space for aquaculture should not be constrained by strict planning, but should instead be integrated with other economic sectors such as tourism. Additionally, mariculture is moving towards reducing emissions and promoting green growth, which complies with Vietnam's commitments on the international stage.