Marine farming becomes a new growth driver for Ho Chi Minh City

On March 18, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment held a meeting to gather opinions from relevant departments and agencies on developing a plan to implement the National Aquaculture Development Program and the Marine Aquaculture Scheme for the 2026 - 2030 period.

According to Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, building comprehensive programs and schemes to “reach out to the sea” and promote the marine economy is a requirement of great urgency, not only for coastal localities but for the entire agricultural sector.

The city’s fisheries development orientation is not limited to marine farming but also includes freshwater and brackish-water aquaculture, particularly in mangrove areas such as Can Gio, which currently supplies high-nutritional-value seafood for the domestic market.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with the Department of Science and Technology to commission scientific research on marine aquaculture, aiming to attract enterprises with strong capital, technological, and management capabilities to invest in the sector.

“We expect marine aquaculture to become a new growth driver, making significant contributions to the city’s economy, especially when combined with other sectors such as tourism,” said Deputy Director Na.

At the meeting, a representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism proposed prioritizing integrated models combining aquaculture and tourism from the early stages of scheme development. Accordingly, many coastal areas could simultaneously capitalize on both values, notably Xuyen Moc, Long Son commune, and Can Gio commune, where eco-tourism development has already been planned. Combining aquaculture with tourism experiences, culinary activities, and even recreational fishing could generate greater added value for localities.

Ho Chi Minh City also enjoys a unique advantage as a major seafood consumption hub, with a dense network of restaurants and hotels and a large volume of tourists. “High-quality seafood can be consumed right on site without relying heavily on exports, while the value generated remains very high,” said Na. Reality has shown that seafood prices at tourist destinations near the city, such as Can Gio and Vung Tau, are significantly higher than in many provinces in the Mekong Delta, thanks to strong market demand.

However, to make the most of this potential, the Deputy Director stressed the need for coordinated action among departments, agencies, and local authorities, particularly cooperation with the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Agricultural High-Tech Park in terms of training human resources.

Deputy Director Na also proposed that the Department of Finance consider providing funding support so that coastal localities, communes, wards, and specialized units can proactively develop and implement projects, avoiding the waste of valuable water surface resources.

“Decentralization is already clear. If local authorities fail to take the initiative, they will miss opportunities and even fail their residents by leaving such a large resource underutilized,” said the Deputy Director.

From the viewpoint of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, aquaculture development must go hand in hand with environmental protection. “We cannot only focus on raising fish in anticipation of harvest. It must be considered within the broader framework of sustainable development. Without proper environmental control, we could pay a heavy price very quickly,” said Deputy Director Na.