Solutions for sustainable ocean aquaculture in Khanh Hoa

Shifting from traditional cages to high-tech aquaculture

On July 14, the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center held a conference titled "Solutions to Enhance the Efficiency of Marine Fish Farming in Khanh Hoa Province." The conference aims to assess the sector's current status, update on technical advances, and propose solutions to help the province's marine farming industry transition to high-tech models and move toward sustainable development.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Director of the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center, the province possesses enormous potential and advantages for the development of marine farming. Over the years, marine fish farming has not only created livelihoods and increased incomes for coastal communities but has also made a substantial contribution to the province's marine economy. The local marine farming industry has achieved remarkable progress, from seed production and the use of industrial feeds to improved farming practices, disease prevention, product processing, and consumption.

Khanh Hoa has a coastline of nearly 500 km, more than 200 large and small islands, and numerous sheltered bays and lagoons, providing highly favorable conditions for industrial-scale marine farming. Major national policies, including the Politburo’s Resolution No. 09 and the Government's Decisions No. 339/QD-TTg and No. 1664/QD-TTg, particularly Decision No. 231/QD-TTg on piloting high-tech farming development, have created significant opportunities for the province to transform its production methods.

However, marine farming in Khanh Hoa faces significant challenges, including the adverse impacts of climate change and rising environmental pollution in farming areas, particularly in nearshore waters. In addition, offshore aquaculture still suffers from limited service and logistics infrastructure, while the application of high technologies remains constrained by high investment costs. Seed quality is not yet stable, resulting in low survival rates. Meanwhile, disease prevention, biosecurity, and the establishment of production, processing, and consumption linkage chains continue to pose major challenges.

Moreover, most households still operate on a small scale using traditional wooden cages that have poor resistance to rough seas and strong winds. The use of fresh feed contributes to water pollution, while limited capital prevents farmers from accessing new technologies. To address these challenges, during the 2023–2025 period, the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center supported hundreds of square and circular HDPE cages to fish farmers through agricultural extension funding and support from the Kind Heart Foundation (Vingroup). These models are equipped with cameras and GPS-based monitoring devices, enabling farmers to familiarize themselves with digital technologies while improving management efficiency.

Representing a company that supplies aquaculture cages, MSc. Hoang Van Hoi, Director of the Seafood Services and Technology Co., Ltd., said HDPE plastic cages have a frame lifespan of up to 50 years and can withstand harsh sea conditions. They are also integrated with automatic environmental monitoring systems that track key parameters, including salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and temperature, providing early warnings to farmers.

Mr. Do Trong Tri, a marine fish farmer on Tri Nguyen Island (Nha Trang), said that in 2025, he and three other farming households received government support covering 50% of their material costs to implement a 640-m³ HDPE square-cage model for farming hybrid grouper, using 100% industrial feed. After more than 10 months of farming, the fish reached an average weight of 1.1 kg each, with an estimated survival rate of around 70%.

According to Mr. Tri, HDPE cages offer excellent resistance to strong waves and winds, while the knotless PE nets are durable, easy to clean, and less prone to biofouling. However, the biggest obstacle remains the high initial investment cost, prompting many nearshore farmers to continue using traditional wooden cages. He recommended that the State introduce financing mechanisms aligned with farmers' actual needs, step up research on high-quality seed production, and encourage the establishment of cooperative groups and marine farming cooperatives to strengthen value chain linkages and secure stable output.

Scientific solutions and strategic direction

Addressing the challenges of seeds and farming technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Manh (Nha Trang University) said that the University's Faculty of Aquaculture has mastered technologies for seed production and commercial farming of 16 marine fish species.

For key farmed species such as silver pompano, snubnose pompano, red drum, and cobia, farming protocols that rely entirely on industrial feed instead of trash fish have become well established, delivering high survival and growth rates. In particular, to reduce the risks posed by natural disasters when stocking small juveniles directly into offshore cages, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Manh emphasized the solution of nursing fingerlings on land until they reach a larger size (8–10 cm) before transferring them to offshore farming areas.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan Thu (Khanh Hoa Sub-Department of Fisheries and Seas and Islands) said that in the first six months of 2026, the province had 15,545 marine fish cages, producing 5,263 tons of fish, up 24% compared to the same period. The Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 14058/KH-UBND dated December 9, 2024, to strengthen effective management.

Based on the Pilot Project on High-Tech Marine Farming Development, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 507/QD-UBND approving designated farming locations, including 1,443.86 hectares of sea area within 3 nautical miles of the coast and 1,273 hectares within 3-6 nautical miles for high-tech marine farming.

Most recently, Decision No. 2279/QD-UBND dated June 26, 2026, approving adjustments to the Provincial Master Plan to 2030, affirmed the province's orientation of shifting farming areas from nearshore waters to offshore areas. The province is also implementing a policy to subsidize insurance premiums for workers on cages under Resolution No. 17/2025/NQ-HĐND while developing financial support policies to help farmers transition to HDPE cages.

Mr. Vo Van Cong, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that the province's marine fish farming industry must gradually transition to industrial-scale production, with product competitiveness and environmental protection serving as its overarching objectives to enhance climate resilience and support international integration.

Regarding long-term vision, Mr. Cong called on relevant agencies to pursue three key orientations, including developing marine fish farming into a modern marine economic sector; establishing a closed value chain from seed production to processing and exports; and fostering an innovation ecosystem that will position Khanh Hoa as the country's leading center for research and technology transfer in high-tech marine farming.

To achieve these goals, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center should continue to innovate its fisheries extension activities, replicate effective HDPE cage farming models, and transfer techniques to local fish farmers. Local authorities and specialized agencies should strengthen management of aquaculture zoning and disease control. Research institutes and universities should continue breeding and completing technical protocols, while enterprises are encouraged to play a leading role by linking with cooperatives and farming households to enhance the competitiveness of Khanh Hoa's marine fish industry.

Mr. Vo Van Cong proposed that local authorities and relevant units focus on the following key tasks: developing marine fish farming in accordance with approved planning and marine spatial management; taking science and technology as the driving force for shifting traditional wooden cages to HDPE cages; and applying smart management solutions such as automated monitoring, automated feeding, and electronic traceability. At the same time, he stressed the importance of building sustainable linkage chains between farmers and businesses to establish the Khanh Hoa marine fish brand.