Removing obstacles to marine economy and agricultural development in Khanh Hoa

Unlocking marine specialized models

On the afternoon of June 29, a working delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung, met with the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee to discuss the development of fisheries, raw material zones, processing, and the export of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.

Khanh Hoa has substantial natural advantages for developing its marine economy. With a coastline of approximately 490 kilometers and numerous sheltered lagoons and bays, the province consistently ranks among the country's top five seafood exporters. In 2025, total seafood output for the province reached over 280,800 tons, generating export revenue of 870 million USD, accounting for nearly 38 percent of the province's overall export value. In the first six months of 2026, seafood output is estimated at over 127,500 tons.

Khanh Hoa has also pioneered high-tech offshore aquaculture. To date, the province has established six aquaculture cooperatives using HDPE plastic cages and issued 55 aquaculture permits. A notable example is the 384-hectare offshore barramundi farming zone operated by Australis Vietnam, which achieves a stable annual output of 6,000 to 8,000 tons. At the same time, efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing have been carried out vigorously and received a positive assessment from the European Commission's inspection delegation.

In addition to fisheries, the province currently has more than 185,000 hectares under cultivation linked to concentrated specialized growing zones. Khanh Hoa has been granted 175 growing area codes, including 65 export codes for durian, mango, pomelo, banana and rice destined for China, the United States, Australia and the European Union. The OCOP program has achieved strong results, with 543 products recognized, laying the groundwork for linking local agricultural products with tourism development.

In livestock farming, a key strategic initiative is the project to develop goat and sheep products as Halal-certified products by 2030, aimed at accessing international markets. As of June 2026, the total goat and sheep herd reached approximately 203,000 head, with the province's sheep herd being the largest in the country. In addition, the swiftlet nest farming industry has maintained its brand presence, with output reaching 11,700 kilograms in the first two quarters of the year.

At the working session, Nguyen Duy Quang, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment, put forward a number of recommendations aimed at resolving difficulties related to mechanisms and infrastructure. For the livestock sector, Quang proposed that the Ministry support the development of models for raising goats and sheep to Halal standards, along with the transfer of scientific and technological advances, breeding stock, and biosafety procedures. The province also expressed interest in having these tasks incorporated into priority programs for the 2026-2030 period, along with support in connecting with enterprises to establish value chains. In parallel, the province recommended support for swiftlet nest enterprises to boost exports to China and Europe.

Notably, regarding the marine economy, the department director highlighted difficulties faced by small enterprises and households engaged in offshore aquaculture due to insufficient capital for investing in storm-resistant HDPE cages and GPS equipment. Because the 2017 Fisheries Law lacks a legal framework for the "offshore aquaculture industrial zone" model, the province recommended that the Ministry promptly issue guidance so that localities have a basis for organizing concentrated offshore farming areas. On a separate note, although Khanh Hoa is a major seafood breeding center for the central region, producing 50 billion fry per year, infrastructure at its breeding zones remains limited. The province proposed that the Ministry consider investing approximately 250 billion VND (about 9.7 million USD) during 2026-2030 to complete water supply, drainage, and wastewater treatment infrastructure for the 168-hectare Nhon Hai breeding zone. Finally, he requested that the Ministry continue supporting investment capital for key irrigation and fisheries projects to meet sustainable development needs.

Resolving infrastructure bottlenecks and shaping the export value chain

Regarding the proposal for an offshore aquaculture industrial zone, Pham Quang Toan, Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance, noted that the concept of an underwater industrial zone is very new. The Ministry is currently drafting the Law on Marine and Island Natural Resources and Environment, which is expected to incorporate content related to the marine economy and policies supporting production activities in marine areas. The draft revised Fisheries Law will also address completing the legal framework for this issue. Regarding the Nhon Hai breeding zone, the Ministry has already issued written guidance on developing a medium-term public investment plan. The province needs to proactively review and cross-check the project against breeding and fisheries development programs already approved by the Prime Minister. Once consistency is confirmed, the province should complete the project documentation in accordance with the guidance and submit it to the Ministry for review and coordinated resolution under current regulations.

Following on, Le Ba Anh, Deputy Director of the National Authority For Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing And Market Development, noted that for the Halal goat and sheep farming model, the current difficulty lies in the strict slaughtering requirements, which require the involvement of practitioners of the Islamic faith. The department proposed that the provincial department coordinate with the Department of Livestock Production to organize a workshop, while also inviting a Halal certification center to introduce relevant standards. Regarding the swiftlet nest market, Vietnam already has an export protocol for China, with the Department of Livestock Production serving as the focal point. The Department of Quality and the Trade Promotion Center will inform the province about trade fairs in Guangzhou so that the province can coordinate its participation.

Assessing processing capacity, Le Ba Anh noted that Khanh Hoa currently has 92 seafood export processing facilities, accounting for more than 10 percent of the national total. The province's strengths lie in tuna, swordfish, and aquaculture products such as lobster and spotted babylon snails exported live to China. However, the fisheries sector also faces challenges in meeting IUU requirements for the European and Japanese markets. The origin of imported raw materials is sometimes mixed with domestically sourced materials. In addition, China has issued warnings regarding antibiotic residues in lobster and spotted babylon snails, and several enterprises have received warnings concerning chemicals and additives used in tuna processing. As a result, the province needs to tightly control antibiotic use in aquaculture and closely monitor processing facilities.

On the matter of investment resources, a representative from the Department of Planning and Finance focused discussion on the Ministry's medium-term public investment plan for the province aimed at leveraging its existing distinctive advantages. The Ministry has already allocated, and continues to allocate, substantial investment resources to Khanh Hoa, with total planned public investment exceeding 8,000 billion VND (about 311 million USD), including the Dong Dien reservoir project, infrastructure for a storm shelter anchorage at a major fishing port, and models for sustainable offshore aquaculture development, all aimed at completing a synchronized technical infrastructure system for the province.

On behalf of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee leadership, Vice Chairman Trinh Minh Hoang requested that the Ministry consider issuing a general mechanism to help localities resolve the issue of unregistered fishing vessels, while also decentralizing vessel registration authority to provincial fisheries sub-departments to create favorable conditions for fishermen. Regarding the development of Halal products, the province proposed that the Ministry issue policies to support and attract enterprises to invest in building standard-compliant slaughterhouses in advantaged farming zones. At the same time, Khanh Hoa requested the Ministry's support in accelerating the establishment of a marine protected area and asked that the Ministry consider handing over the land fund at the site of a former livestock farm to local management in order to address residents' demand for production land.

Delivering closing remarks, Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung praised Khanh Hoa's achievements in agricultural and marine economic development. Looking ahead, the Deputy Minister asked the province to continue strictly implementing IUU fishing prevention measures, effectively managing fishing activities, and monitoring catch volumes through ports. The Ministry fully supports the province's direction in developing Halal-standard goat and sheep farming as well as promoting swiftlet nest exports. The Deputy Minister tasked relevant departments and bureaus with reviewing documentation and records and coordinating with enterprises to resolve technical difficulties and open up market access. At the same time, units were asked to strengthen their sense of responsibility and assign clear focal points for infrastructure investment, working closely alongside Khanh Hoa toward the goal of sustainable marine economic development.