Marine aquaculture milestone: [3] Toward modern industrial farming zones

Likened to a "miniature Viet Nam," Quang Ninh possesses unique natural advantages. With a coastline stretching over 250 km, thousands of islands that form sheltered bays, and more than 6,100 km² of sea surface area, the province holds immense potential to develop a marine economy.

However, for many years, local aquaculture has remained largely small-scale and fragmented, concentrated in nearshore bays, resulting in mounting environmental pressure and incommensurate economic efficiency. In response to the need for transformation, Quang Ninh province is now determined to undertake a major shift from traditional farming to industrial, high-tech marine aquaculture and expand operations into offshore waters.

Creating new growth space offshore

The Quang Ninh Department of Agriculture and Environment is currently formulating a project on developing concentrated marine aquaculture in an industrial and modern direction. This comprehensive strategy aims to replan marine space, particularly in areas beyond six nautical miles. The project's core objective is to create new growth space and attract large-scale investors with strong financial and technological capacity to establish a methodical, sustainable marine aquaculture industry.

The proactive expansion and reorganization of sea surface areas reflects the province's long-term vision in addressing the trade-off between economic development and the protection of the bay’s ecological environment.

In practice, Quang Ninh has already taken promising initial steps. Across the province, advanced marine aquaculture models have emerged, including industrial circular cage systems capable of withstanding strong waves and oyster farming technologies that meet international standards. Enterprises such as STP Group Joint Stock Company and Thanh Tuan Cooperative have pioneered in transforming production mindsets.

Notably, offshore squid and cuttlefish farming projects by Bien Dong Squid Joint Stock Company have demonstrated that waters beyond six nautical miles in Quang Ninh can become a “gold mine” for premium, endemic seafood products. However, the number of large-scale projects remains modest. This underscores the need for a sufficiently robust legal framework and planning system to unlock investment flows.

To realize its goal of becoming a fisheries hub in Northern Viet Nam, Quang Ninh has identified planning as a critical first step. In the draft project, the province proposes expanding more than 100,000 ha of water surface area beyond six nautical miles, adding to the over 45,000 ha already planned. This impressive figure reflects a strong determination to unlock the potential of deeper waters.

Removing infrastructure bottlenecks to welcome 'ocean eagles'

Speaking with VAN News, Mr. Do Dinh Minh, Head of the Sub-Department of Seas, Islands, and Fisheries Surveillance under the Quang Ninh Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that the establishment of concentrated farming zones in Vinh Thuc, Cai Chien, Dam Ha, Co To, and Van Don would help the province maintain an annual  growth rate of marine aquaculture at 8–10%.

Quang Ninh aims for industrial marine aquaculture to account for more than 75% of the province’s total aquaculture output by 2030, creating a major breakthrough in added value.

Nevertheless, this journey faces challenges of shared infrastructure and logistics services, which are the biggest barriers for businesses. According to Mr. Minh, offshore aquaculture requires substantial investment in cage systems made from new materials such as HDPE, as well as in remote monitoring and automated environmental observation systems. Meanwhile, local seed production capacity remains limited, and linkages among the production, processing, and consumption stages remain weak.

In particular, access to preferential credit and insurance policies for marine aquaculture continues to face procedural obstacles. "If these bottlenecks are not promptly addressed, investors may hesitate in the face of the ocean's uncertainties," Mr. Do Dinh Minh noted.

​To address these challenges, Quang Ninh's aquaculture development project focuses on synchronous and sustainable solutions. The province will not only allocate marine areas but also invest in shared technical infrastructure, creating the most favorable conditions for enterprises to access science and technology.

According to the proposed roadmap, immediately after the plan is approved in early Q2 2026, Quang Ninh will enter a phase of vigorous implementation. The province will publicly announce the scope and boundaries of concentrated farming zones while accelerating procedures for allocating marine areas to organizations and individuals. This sends a clear signal to the investment community of a transparent and highly promising business environment. Reorganizing aquaculture facilities into concentrated production zones will enhance disease-control efficiency and facilitate the development of the Quang Ninh seafood brand on the global stage.

The transformation of Quang Ninh's marine aquaculture sector carries not only economic significance but also profound political and social importance. Offshore aquaculture development is closely linked to safeguarding maritime sovereignty, creating stable jobs, and improving incomes for coastal communities, thereby helping shift mindsets from exploitation to sustainable farming. As modern industrial aquaculture zones come into operation, they will become "factories at sea," providing a stable supply of raw materials for processing and export industries, thereby contributing to Quang Ninh’s ambition to become a comprehensive growth pole in Northern Viet Nam.

Quang Ninh is also studying special policy mechanisms to encourage the consolidation of sea surface areas, along with tax and credit incentives to attract leading enterprises capable of driving value chain linkages. The adoption of circular economy models in marine aquaculture, such as multi-trophic farming and by-product reuse, is identified as an inevitable pathway to ensure a clean and healthy marine environment while enhancing resilience to climate change.