Quang Ninh province collaborates with 7 businesses to develop mariculture

Under the guidance of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, research institutes and major businesses in Vietnam have supported Quang Ninh province in researching, applying, and implementing modern, industrial mariculture models.

At the mariculture conference, Quang Ninh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development organized the signing of a memorandum of understanding with seven businesses to promote the development of mariculture in Quang Ninh province from 2024 to 2025.

Participants of the MoU include 4 research institutes: 3 institutes specializing in aquaculture research (Research Institute for Aquaculture 1, Research Institute for Aquaculture 3, Research Institute for Marine Fisheries), and 1 applied research institute (Mekong Institute for Applied Science, Technology, and Training).

Three businesses were also involved: a technology research and development business in mariculture (Nam Central Group Corporation), a processing and manufacturing business (Lenger Seafoods Vietnam Company Limited), and a mariculture business (STP Group Joint Stock Company).

Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the Quang Ninh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued aquaculture licenses and allocated marine areas to several businesses and cooperatives within Quang Ninh province.

In an effort to continue the administrative reforms as directed by the Government, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee instructed the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Department of Natural Resources and Environment to carry out breakthrough administrative procedures.

Accordingly, this reform process involved issuing interdisciplinary guidelines for environmental impact assessments, issuing license for intensive mariculture, and allocating marine areas for mariculture. As a result, the province issued mariculture licenses to six businesses within the first quarter of 2024.

During a previous conference on production linkage issues, Minister Le Minh Hoan analyzed the symbolic circular logo of the program: "This is the symbol of the united fisheries circle; a shared circle of fisheries will grow with each passing day; reinforced by the people and the government. If we overlook the role of the people, the role of the community, we will fail…"

Minister Le Minh Hoan pledged that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will acknowledge and compile the reported challenges to collaborate with other ministries and sectors in proposing solutions to the Government; warn farmers against mariculture until the issues are resolved. Standards and regulations for mariculture cages will be developed to address spontaneous mariculture activities.

Stakeholders will cooperate with relevant ministries and sectors to promote seaweed farming, and other potential industries; strengthen research and cooperation efforts in scientific and technological research to develop high-tech aquaculture and deep processing models; develop seafood products into cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.