High-tech marine aquaculture paves the way for a sustainable blue economy

Investment incentives needed

Alongside the growth of coastal and island tourism, Quang Ninh is accelerating its transition from capture fisheries to high-tech marine aquaculture to restore aquatic resources and foster a sustainable blue economy. At the recent workshop, "Developing green marine tourism and happiness tourism: A future pathway for cooperatives," held in the Co To Special Zone, experts noted that this shift is not only an inevitable direction for the fisheries sector but also a long-term solution for securing sustainable livelihoods for coastal and island fishing communities.

For many years, coastal fishery resources have continued to decline due to overfishing and the impacts of climate change. Many marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests, are under increasing pressure from fishing activities and coastal infrastructure development. Against this backdrop, transitioning to industrial-scale, environmentally sustainable, and technology-driven marine aquaculture is widely regarded as a key solution to reducing pressure on wild fisheries.

Nguyen Ba Ngoc, Chairman of East Sea Jumping Squid Joint Stock Company, said the company spent more than five years completing the procedures required to obtain sea-use rights for its offshore aquaculture project. It has now been allocated more than 209 hectares of sea area in the Co To Special Zone to develop an offshore farming operation using environmentally friendly HDPE cages, with a total investment of approximately VND 120 billion.

According to Ngoc, the cages are installed about six nautical miles offshore to take advantage of natural ocean currents, reduce localized pollution, and better withstand rough sea conditions. This approach differs significantly from traditional nearshore aquaculture, which is more prone to environmental pollution and highly vulnerable to extreme weather. However, the implementation process has also highlighted many of the challenges facing Vietnam's marine aquaculture sector.

High-tech marine aquaculture integrated with ecotourism

Associate Professor Nguyen Huu Dung, President of the Vietnam Seaculture Association (VSA), said that modern marine aquaculture is about more than simply farming seafood. It must go hand in hand with environmental protection and community development. He emphasized the principle of "cultivating the water before cultivating the fish," meaning that the health of the marine ecosystem must be safeguarded before expanding production. If water quality deteriorates, the entire marine aquaculture value chain will struggle to remain sustainable.

According to Dung, Quang Ninh is leading the country in integrating high-tech marine aquaculture with experiential tourism. This model not only creates new livelihood opportunities for fishing communities but also helps reduce pressure on wild fisheries. Activities such as visiting offshore fish cages, experiencing traditional fishing practices, enjoying freshly harvested seafood, and learning about marine ecosystems are gradually becoming distinctive tourism products in many of the province's coastal areas.

Another key direction highlighted at the workshop was the development of community-based ecological marine aquaculture. Under this model, local fishers are not only producers but also active participants in tourism, introducing visitors to the culture of traditional fishing villages while helping protect the marine environment. This approach creates a new value chain in which seafood production, tourism, and conservation are closely integrated rather than operating independently.

As part of its long-term strategy, the establishment of the Co To–Dao Tran Marine Protected Area, covering more than 18,414 hectares, is considered a milestone. Beyond restoring marine ecosystems, the protected area is also expected to reinforce Vietnam's national sovereignty in the country's northeastern waters.

According to experts, a key feature of the new conservation model is its community-centered approach. Rather than relying primarily on restrictive measures, it places local fishing communities at the heart of marine resource management. Residents are encouraged to participate in the management of protected areas while benefiting from tourism and conservation-related services. As stable livelihoods from marine aquaculture, tourism, and ecosystem-based services expand, pressure on wild fisheries is expected to decline significantly.

Ngo Tat Thang, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Cooperative Alliance, said the province is currently home to more than 400 cooperatives engaged in fisheries and marine aquaculture. These cooperatives provide an important foundation for building large-scale production value chains to replace the fragmented production model of the past. According to Thang, the Provincial Cooperative Alliance is developing a proposal for a "Model modern marine aquaculture cooperative village," with the goal of creating a high-tech marine aquaculture hub integrated with marine ecotourism.

At many community-based tourism destinations on the islands, visitors now do more than simply relax. They can take part in activities closely connected to the daily lives of local fishing communities, including recreational fishing, visiting offshore fish cages, experiencing seafood processing, and learning about the culture of coastal and island communities. These experiences are creating added value for the fisheries sector while raising public awareness of marine environmental protection.

According to many experts, the future of the blue economy lies not in maximizing resource extraction but in restoring, nurturing, and sustainably utilizing marine ecosystems. From offshore HDPE aquaculture cages to community-based tourism cooperatives, Quang Ninh is demonstrating a strong shift from a resource-extraction mindset toward a model of green and sustainable development.

The development of the blue economy continues to face significant challenges, including climate change, natural disasters, environmental pollution, and increasing market competition. Nevertheless, the coordinated efforts of local authorities, businesses, cooperatives, and coastal fishing communities are fostering a new vision for the marine economy, one in which people not only make their living from the sea but also protect and preserve it as a lasting resource for future generations.

$ 1 = VND 26,460 - Source: Vietcombank.