Cold-water fish farming targets premium markets for sustainability

On April 23–24, at the Lai Chau Provincial Cultural and Conference Center, the Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to organize the Conference on Developing Commodity Agriculture and Medicinal Plants toward a Green Economy.

In preparation for the conference, VAN News has launched a special series titled Lai Chau's Green Aspiration, providing a comprehensive overview of the province's agriculture and environment sector, with strategies and aspirations for green and sustainable development.

Dr. Le Thanh Luu, Director of the International Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS) and former Director General of the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1, delivered a presentation on developing cold-water fish farming toward sustainable mid- to high-end markets.

According to Dr. Le Thanh Luu, after more than 20 years of formation and development, cold-water fish farming has gradually affirmed its role in the fisheries sector, particularly in the northern mountainous region and the Central Highlands. Beyond generating high-value products, cold-water fish farming has also opened up new livelihood opportunities for upland communities, contributing to the efficient use of natural cold-water resources while linking production with forest and environmental protection.

The sector's key milestone was recorded in 2005, when the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1 (now the Viet Nam Academy of Fishery Sciences) introduced two species, namely rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), for pilot farming in Sa Pa. The initial success opened up significant prospects and laid the foundation for widespread development of cold-water fish farming.

As of now, cold-water fish farming has now expanded with a diverse range of species, including various salmon and sturgeon species as well as hybrid strains capable of adapting well to Viet Nam's climatic and water conditions. Farming areas are mainly concentrated in the Northwest, Viet Bac, Northeast, and Central Highlands, where natural conditions are favorable.

The annual salmon output currently reaches approximately 400–500 tons, while sturgeon output reaches around 4,500–5,000 tons, with an average growth rate of about 10%/year. However, according to Dr. Le Thanh Luu, these figures only meet about 45% of domestic demand. The remainder is still covered by imports, mainly salmon from developed countries and sturgeon from China.

This indicates that the sector's development potential remains substantial. With appropriate investment, cold-water fish production could reach 10,000–12,000 tons within the next 5-10 years, not only meeting domestic demand but also moving toward exports to premium markets.

However, current development also reveals several limitations. Although farming technologies have been established, production is still largely small- and medium-scale, using tanks, outdoor ponds, or flowing water systems. Productivity reaches an average of 15–20 kg/m³ of water, with the use of industrial feed. However, most products are still sold in fresh form, without high added value.

One of the biggest challenges is reliance on imported seeds. Currently, around 80–85% of fingerlings are still imported from abroad, mainly in the form of fertilized eggs. This not only increases production costs but also poses risks related to quality and supply sources.

In addition, cold-water fish farming lacks close value chain linkages. Production, processing, and consumption stages are not yet synchronized, limiting the competitiveness of domestic products. The underdeveloped deep-processing industry is also a key factor preventing the sector from maximizing product value.

In Binh Lu commune, Lai Chau province, cold-water fish farming has been maintained and developed, with a total farming volume across the commune reaching 21,870 m³ and an estimated output of 197 tons in 2025. Although the sector has grown strongly and generated significant income for many households, it still poses considerable risks.

First and foremost are the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. Heavy rains, landslides, and fluctuations in water sources have caused severe damage to many farming facilities. As fish farming depends heavily on natural water sources, these changes directly affect productivity and production efficiency.

Additionally, market price volatility is placing great pressure on farmers. Since late 2024, sturgeon prices have dropped sharply to just over VND 100,000/kg, much lower than the previous level of VND 170,000–180,000/kg. Meanwhile, input costs, particularly feed and seeds, continue to rise, significantly narrowing farmers’ profits.

These challenges clearly highlight the bottlenecks pointed out by Dr. Le Thanh Luu, ranging from reliance on imported seeds and underdeveloped farming technologies to the lack of linkage chains and ineffective market management. Without early resolution, the sector will struggle to achieve the goal of sustainable development.

To overcome existing challenges, experts recommend the synchronous implementation of multiple solutions. First, it is necessary to strengthen research and gradually achieve domestic seed production autonomy. Collaboration between research institutes and enterprises in developing broodstocks and improving artificial reproduction processes will be key to reducing dependence on imports.

In parallel, the application of advanced farming technologies such as recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and aquaponics models will help improve productivity, reduce environmental impacts, and better adapt to climate change. This is also an important direction for enhancing product quality to meet the strict requirements of premium markets.

Another important solution is to reorganize production along value chains. When input supply, production, processing, and consumption stages are closely linked, products will become more competitive while ensuring transparency and traceability.

Developing the deep-processing industry should also be prioritized to diversify products, from fresh food to high value-added products. This would allow farmers to benefit from product value rather than relying solely on raw material prices.

From practical experience in Lai Chau, appropriate zoning of farming areas, investment in stable water supply infrastructure, and the establishment of preferential credit mechanisms are key factors that help local farmers feel secure in investing. Besides, technical training, improved management capacity, and the expansion of domestic markets also need to be further promoted.

To move toward mid- and high-end market segments domestically and internationally, cold-water fish farming requires a long-term development strategy with synchronous, decisive, and context-appropriate solutions. If these conditions are met, Vietnamese cold-water fish can achieve a breakthrough, affirm their market position, and become a high-value sector in the future.

$1 = VND 26,360 - Source: Vietcombank