Khanh Hoa expands high-tech offshore aquaculture models

Economic gains from pilot models

Offshore aquaculture infrastructure in Dam Bay (Nha Trang) has expanded to 42 high-tech circular HDPE cages. Previously, fishermen here used to rely on wooden cages combined with old plastic drums. This was a model that exposed many limitations, including poor durability and vulnerability to storm damage during the rainy season. Another concern was excessive nearshore farming density that contributed to environmental pollution and disease outbreaks.

The current transition to HDPE, known for high elasticity, allows the cages to better withstand strong waves in open-sea conditions. In offshore waters with greater depth and stronger currents, Dam Bay’s water quality has improved significantly. Practical trials show the improved model helps fish grow faster, reduces disease, lowers operating costs, and shortens farming cycles by 1 to 1.5 months per crop compared to traditional wooden cages.

Vu Khac Muoi, one of the pioneering farmers in Dam Bay, said that his family initially tested two HDPE circular cages. After seeing clear results, he proactively collaborated with neighboring households to form a cooperative and confidently expanded his operation to 12 cages.

This expansion has delivered strong returns. Last year, farmers in Dam Bay earned more than VND 4 billion in total profit from farming nine cages of golden pompano, with each cage generating profits of VND 400-500 million annually. While 13-meter-diameter cages previously yielded around 10 tons of fish, farmers are now investing in larger 20-meter cages, increasing output to 30-35 tons per cage.

According to the Khanh Hoa Fisheries and Sea Islands Sub-Department, five households in Dam Bay are farming golden pompano using HDPE cages. These households have coordinated fish seed stocking together. They first rear juvenile fish in traditional wooden cages until the fish reach 50–60 grams each before transferring them into HDPE cages offshore. Initial harvest results show survival rates exceeding 85%. After deducting costs and depreciation, profits are estimated at VND 485 million per cage.

This success is also spreading to farming models in Bai Giong and Mui Co Co. Promising results continue with golden pompano and grouper weighing 0.8-1.2 kg each. These models are expected to supply tens of tons of premium commercial fish to the market.

Technology and policy as growth drivers

Khanh Hoa has a coastline nearly 490 km long, with deep and sheltered lagoons and bays stretching to Ca Na. It is one of central Vietnam’s leading aquatic seed production hubs, accounting for about 30% of the country’s total aquatic seed output.

Its aquatic seed portfolio spans from black tiger shrimp, whiteleg shrimp, and spotted Babylon snails to marine fish, geoducks, crabs, and sea cucumbers. Key farmed species include lobster, grouper, golden pompano, and barramundi.

Decision No. 231/QD-TTg, issued on January 24, 2025, by the Prime Minister approving the pilot high-tech offshore aquaculture scheme in Khanh Hoa, has become an important legal foundation. The province’s offshore aquaculture output has doubled from nearly 10,000 tons in 2020 to over 20,000 tons in 2025. Seafood export turnover reached USD 870 million, accounting for 37.8% of the province’s total export value and placing Khanh Hoa among Vietnam’s top five seafood-exporting localities.

These results stem from accelerated deployment of core technologies, including disease control through biological testing, adoption of new cage materials such as HDPE and FRP, automated feeding systems using sensors and cameras, and digital transformation through AI-integrated electronic logbooks for risk prediction. In post-harvest stages, lifting equipment, chilled seawater storage, and QR-code traceability systems help meet strict export standards.

To date, the province has established several highly effective industrial offshore aquaculture zones, including Australis Vietnam with 384 hectares and 51 barramundi cages producing 250–300 tons per cage, and Research Institute for Aquaculture No. I with 42 golden pompano cages yielding 200 tons annually. The Khanh Hoa Fisheries and Sea Islands Sub-Department has issued 55 offshore aquaculture licenses to 51 households and four companies, covering 800 hectares in waters located 3-6 nautical miles offshore.

Removing infrastructure bottlenecks for expansion

Although HDPE cage farming delivers much higher economic returns than traditional wooden cages, the Khanh Hoa Fisheries and Sea Islands Sub-Department has identified significant concerns among local farmers. The biggest obstacle remains infrastructure and offshore logistics, as many farmers still lack specialized transport vessels.

Farmers reported major transportation difficulties. Travel from Cam Ranh to farming zones near Hon Noi takes 2.5-3 hours, resulting in substantial transportation costs. Fuel and labor expenses have directly eaten into profitability, leaving a group of 12 households in Cam Ranh with no actual profits despite generating revenues exceeding VND 6 billion.

A group of five households in Cam Lam participating in pilot farming earned profits of VND 53 million each but remain concerned because of the lack of dedicated logistics docking areas for vessels and feed storage.

To meet the goal of supporting 70 models through the Loving Heart Foundation under Plan No. 11346/KH-UBND, local authorities are implementing key solutions. Specifically, they are proposing a review of the Zoning Plan for Area 4 to determine the location for the construction of a specialized inland waterway terminal in Cam Ranh; and requesting the Loving Heart Foundation to provide immediate support with two transport vessels to serve the Hon Noi aquaculture area.

Efforts to mobilize matching funds at the local level have been intensified. The target households needing to urgently complete the remaining matching funds include: Dai Lanh commune (5 households), Van Hung commune (3 households), Nam Ninh Hoa commune (3 households), Bac Cam Ranh ward (2 households), Cam Ranh ward (9 households), Cam Linh ward (7 households), and Nam Cam Ranh commune (14 households).

In the long term, the province is proposing that central authorities provide guidance on mechanisms for allocating marine areas to major enterprises for infrastructure investment and encouraging the establishment of offshore aquaculture cooperatives to build integrated supply chains from breeding to market distribution.

At the same time, the provincial People’s Committee has proposed allocating VND 500 billion in medium-term public investment for 2026–2030 to build boundary marker systems, navigation buoys, zoning channels, and secure anchoring systems for cages.

Together with Resolution No. 17/NQ-HĐND, which supports accident insurance for workers, the agricultural sector is actively advising on policies to subsidize the transition from wooden cages to HDPE cages, giving fishermen greater confidence to safely scale up production.

$ 1 = VND 26,463 - Source: Vietcombank.