Khanh Hoa welcomes high-tech mariculture projects

Potential and policy foundation

Khanh Hoa holds significant untapped potential for its marine economy. With a coastline stretching about 490 kilometers and a system of wind-sheltered bays and lagoons, including Van Phong, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, and Vinh Hy, along with more than 200 islands, the province enjoys favorable natural conditions for diversifying aquaculture. It also has a port and logistics system and strong connectivity that support the formation of large, concentrated farming zones.

Nguyen Duy Quang, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment, said shifting from small-scale traditional farming to large-scale, concentrated mariculture, combined with expansion into farther offshore areas, will ease pressure on nearshore environments and improve climate resilience.

According to Quang, the province's advantages extend beyond its scenery to its existing research and production ecosystem. Khanh Hoa is home to leading training and research institutions, including Nha Trang University, the Institute of Oceanography, and the Research Institute for Aquaculture, which support the adoption and transfer of advanced farming methods and the development of new breeds. The province is also a major center for aquaculture breeding stock, accounting for about 30 percent of the national total across a range of high-value marine species, including black tiger shrimp, white-leg shrimp, spotted babylon, marine fish, geoduck clams, crab, and sea cucumber, giving it a solid foundation for a complete production chain from research and breeding to commercial farming, processing, and sales.

In addition, the Pilot Scheme for High-Tech Mariculture Development, approved by the prime minister under Decision No. 231 dated January 24, 2025, sets out spatial planning, target species, and farming technology for zones from the shoreline to 3 nautical miles, from 3 to 6 nautical miles, and farther offshore waters. To drive investment, the province has rolled out a number of practical mechanisms and policies, including incentives under National Assembly Resolution No. 55 for domestic investors farming in waters 3 nautical miles or farther offshore, offering exemptions and reductions on marine area use fees for 15 years and preferential corporate income tax rates (such as 10 percent or 17 percent, with specific exemption and reduction periods depending on the zone).

Provincial People's Council resolutions have further supported the sector, including interest-rate support for commercial loans under Decree No. 57 (Resolution No. 04), support for workplace accident insurance for workers on fish cages (Resolution No. 17), and support for converting cages to new materials for 2026-2029 (Resolution No. 12), all of which help ease upfront costs and risk for farmers. Under its medium-term public investment plan for 2026-2030, the province also plans to allocate 500 billion VND (roughly USD19.5 million) for infrastructure in concentrated farming zones, including boundary markers, cage anchoring systems, and supporting facilities, to create a consistent technical foundation for businesses.

Sustainable development tied to technology

In its investment strategy, the province's agriculture and environment sector is focusing on linking capital, technology, and markets. Khanh Hoa hopes to attract long-term, anchor investment from major corporations with strong financial capacity and experience. Investors are expected to apply suitable technologies, such as new cage materials with strong durability and wave resistance, automated feeding systems, monitoring cameras, environmental sensors, and data management and traceability systems. The province is particularly interested in investment projects that span the full value chain, from supplying materials and farming to deep processing of high value-added products that meet export standards and expand both domestic and international distribution networks.

To address common administrative bottlenecks, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is rolling out five key groups of solutions: reviewing and transparently publishing marine farming zones consistent with planning; strengthening dedicated staff to support and accompany businesses from the earliest stages; standardizing procedures for preparing complete applications covering location, scale, and environmental reporting to reduce repeated revisions; aligning coordinates, area, and boundaries between drawings and legal documents; and strengthening early interagency coordination to resolve issues related to national defense, security, maritime affairs, tourism, and conservation.

Khanh Hoa's development of high-tech mariculture is designed to go hand in hand with environmental protection, ecosystem conservation, and tourism space. Planning concentrated farming zones, controlling environmental carrying capacity, protecting sensitive ecological areas, and gradually moving farming operations farther offshore will ease pressure on nearshore areas and avoid spatial conflicts. The province's approach is not to pursue mariculture growth at any cost, but to pursue controlled development based on the ecosystem's carrying capacity. The combination of preferential policies, coordinated infrastructure, modern technology, and planning-based management is expected to provide the foundation for the province's mariculture sector to grow steadily, offering residents lasting livelihoods while preserving the marine ecological space for future generations.