MAE determined to remove bottlenecks in marine farming

On December 16, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang worked with the Viet Nam Seaculture Association (VSA), focusing on discussing solutions to develop marine farming in a methodical and industrial direction, instead of the fragmented and spontaneous practices seen at present.

How can marine farming be organized and sustainable?

Raising the issue at the meeting, Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that developing marine farming is not a matter of "overnight success," nor can it be completed within just a few months. The implementation period may not be long, but the requirement is to go straight to the heart of the matter, focusing on answering a key question: how to develop marine farming in a methodical, industrial, well-organized, and sustainable manner.

According to the Minister, Viet Nam has a total sea area of over 1 million km². Preliminary assessments show that the area suitable for marine farming could reach more than 500,000 ha, equivalent to about 50% of the country’s marine area. However, in reality, marine farming activities remain largely small-scale and fragmented and have yet to reach the level of industrial marine farming as in many countries around the world.

"This is mandatory work. But alongside state support, we must also ask about the capacity and determination of enterprises to undertake this task. There must be parallel engagement between the State and enterprises," Minister Tran Duc Thang stressed.

5 proposals that need to be addressed

Speaking at the working session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Chairman of VSA, said that according to FAO's assessments, Viet Nam has a coastline of 3,260 km, more than 3,000 islands, and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of around 1 million km². Marine fish farming productivity in tropical regions currently reaches approximately 9,900–12,000 tons/km², equivalent to about 100 tons/ha.

Based on calculations, if only 0.1% of the EEZ were utilized, Viet Nam could form a farming area of 1,000 km², generating an output of around 10 million tons of marine fish/year, not to mention other seafood products.

Drawing from practical realities and the requirement to develop marine farming in an industrial and modern direction, VSA has put forward several key proposals to remove policy bottlenecks.

First, the Association proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) report to and submit to the Government for unified policy approval and seek permission to formulate a project on developing a system of marine farming industrial clusters in coastal provinces and cities. This is considered an urgent requirement, as once the policy direction is clarified and aligned, on-the-ground implementation can begin immediately, avoiding prolonged preparation periods.

Second, the Association recommended assigning the management of marine farming industrial clusters to the MAE, instead of the Ministry of Industry and Trade as stipulated in the current Decree 32, because marine farming is closely linked to marine resources and the marine environment.

Third, the unit proposed allocating land and water surface funds while establishing mechanisms to attract enterprises to participate in pilot projects. At present, three enterprises have sufficient capacity, have developed specific projects, and are ready to implement them once the legal framework is in place.

Fourth, with regard to incentive policies, marine farming infrastructure is essential infrastructure and therefore requires state support. In the context of limited resources, it was suggested that appropriate policies be adopted on finance, credit, insurance, science and technology, human resource training, and the development of deep processing.

Finally, a key issue highlighted was the severe shortage of national standards and technical regulations for industrial marine farming. This remains a major barrier to the development of a large-scale, modern, and sustainable marine farming industry.

Implementing 3 pilot projects

Based on discussions with enterprises attending the meeting, including Bien Dong Seafood JSC, STP Group, and DECO Group, which also reported and clarified proposals of units under the MAE, Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that, in the Ministry’s assessment, VSA's proposals are fully aligned with the objectives set out in the Central Government’s Resolution No. 36, as well as the Government's relevant directives.

If implemented effectively, marine farming will not only bring economic benefits but also contribute to fundamentally transforming production methods, reducing pressure on traditional exploitation activities, and supporting the addressing of IUU-related requirements and international regulations scheduled to take effect from 2026.

The Minister affirmed that the current legal framework is basically adequate. However, policies are scattered across multiple documents, creating difficulties in organization and implementation. In the immediate term, the Ministry will focus on supporting the implementation of three pilot projects in Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa, and An Giang, representing three marine regions with different natural conditions, to create a practical basis for scaling up in the future.

The objective is to remove all obstacles so that the projects can be implemented in the first quarter of 2026. The MAE will issue a concluding notice, assign specific tasks to its subordinate units, and closely coordinate with localities, affirming its determination to develop marine farming into one of Viet Nam’s key marine economic sectors.

The second issue addressed by Minister Tran Duc Thang was the formulation of projects related to marine farming development. Regarding VSA’s proposal, the Minister assigned the Department of Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance to study and thoroughly assess whether it is necessary to develop a separate project. In case of need, the project must be developed methodically and reported to the competent authority, possibly the Prime Minister, for consideration and approval.

However, the Minister stressed that the report must clearly reflect the current situation and propose specific solutions, following the principle "How it must be done if implemented; if not, there must be clear grounds."

Reviewing policies to remove implementation bottlenecks

Regarding the proposal to assign the MAE to chair comprehensively for this field, under the Government’s current assignment, the Association has submitted a report to the Prime Minister. The Minister affirmed that the Ministry is ready to assume this task to ensure coherence from planning and policy formulation to implementation guidance. However, the assignment of responsibilities falls under the authority of the Government, and the Ministry cannot make such a decision on its own. Pending a clear assignment, all units must continue to perform their functions and duties in accordance with existing regulations.

Regarding incentive policies, the Minister noted that current investment and tax laws for agriculture in general and fisheries in particular already provide very high levels of incentives. Nevertheless, the Department of Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance should be tasked with reviewing all policies currently in force, including land allocation, land leasing, sea surface leasing, tax, credit, insurance, and other forms of support. The Department also needs to synthesize them to clarify the current state of implementation, compare them with other sectors and fields, and assess whether adjustments or supplementation are necessary.

Contents under the MAE's authority will be reviewed and addressed by the Ministry, while issues beyond its mandate will be synthesized and submitted to the Government. However, the Minister underscored a consistent principle: the State facilitates; enterprises must take the initiative. The State will not act on behalf of enterprises but will focus on creating a favorable environment, particularly through streamlined administrative procedures.

One task that clearly falls within the Ministry’s responsibility is to review and promulgate a complete system of technical standards and norms related to marine farming, while also reviewing legal documents issued under the Ministry's authority to ensure coherence and feasibility.

Regarding the issuance of certificates for the right to use leased sea areas, the Minister noted that this is a fixed-term leasing arrangement. In cases where land is leased with annual rental payments, certificates of land use rights are still granted, but such rights may not be mortgaged. However, assets formed from enterprises’ investment activities must be eligible for use as collateral. This issue relates to credit legislation and has been assigned to functional units in charge of seas and islands for further study.

During the process of amending decrees related to the Law of the Sea and the Law on Seas and Islands, Minister Tran Duc Thang requested that the above-mentioned contents be studied and proposed for supplementation to ensure the lawful rights and interests of enterprises, while implementation should proceed on an expedited basis. The Ministry is also awaiting opinions from the Ministry of Justice on relevant issues.

The general principle emphasized is that sea surface management must be similar to land management, with defined time limits, clear documentation, and full assurance of users' rights and obligations. State management agencies must have a clear understanding of sea surface use and clearly delineate zones for oil and gas, offshore wind power, aquaculture, and other activities, similar to onshore land management work.

On that basis, the MAE will issue a concluding notice providing clear orientation on the contents to be implemented. Issues related to credit, banking, and insurance will also be recorded for continued recommendation during the implementation process. The Minister requested that enterprises encountering difficulties or obstacles channel their feedback through the Association for consolidation and reporting.

Reaffirming the Ministry's position, Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that, with its state management function over seas and islands, the MAE wishes to develop marine farming into one of the country's key marine economic sectors and will actively coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to ensure effective implementation.