Vietnam’s seafood industry achieves sustainable growth: Mariculture, steady steps to the future

Mariculture – the inevitable trend of the era

In June 2025, the latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) rang an alarm bell: 35.5% of global marine fish populations are being overexploited, with only 64.5% remaining at sustainable levels. This conclusion came from a survey of 2,570 fish populations, involving 650 experts from 90 countries. The figures confirm one truth: the ocean is no longer an endless warehouse of fish, and humanity must change its way of interacting with the sea.

As natural resources are gradually depleted, the global trend is shifting strongly from fishing to large-scale, industrialized mariculture, moving offshore, applying technology for disease management and traceability. Many countries see this as a strategic approach to ensure food security while reducing pressure on marine ecosysteMrs. Vietnam, with over 3,260 km of coastline and an exclusive economic zone of more than 1 million km², has significant potential and advantages to develop this trend.

The Central Government issued Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW dated October 22, 2018 on the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045. To institutionalize the Resolution, the Prime Minister approved the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries to 2030, with a vision to 2045, and the Project on the Development of Marine Aquaculture to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The general goal of the Project is to develop mariculture into a large-scale, industrial, synchronized, safe, efficient, sustainable production sector that protects the ecological environment; to create branded products meeting domestic and export market demands; to generate jobs, improve socio-economic conditions, and raise incomes for coastal communities; and to contribute to safeguarding national security and defense in Vietnam’s seas and islands.

The targets are that by 2025, mariculture will cover 280,000 ha with 10 million m³ of cages and produce about 850,000 tons, with exports reaching USD 0.8-1 billion. By 2030, the area will expand to 300,000 ha with 12 million m³ of cages, producing 1.45 million tons, and exports reaching USD 1.8-2 billion.

These figures carry more than economic value. They represent a message of sustainable development: mariculture sustains today’s needs while preserving resources and the environment for the generations to come.

To connect farmers closely with the sea

For mariculture to truly become a large-scale production industry, a stable and synchronized legal framework is the prerequisite. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Seaculture Association, affirmed: “The core is still anchoring the legal framework so that farmers stay attached to the sea”. When local people are granted long-term use rights over marine areas, with clear standards and regulations, they can confidently invest heavily and apply modern technology to cope with climate change, storms, and diseases.

In reality, marine farmers are facing many obstacles. Bank loans are difficult to access, while water surface rental fees remain relatively high at VND 7.5 million/ha per year. This places significant pressure on many households. It should be remembered that beyond economic value, species like oysters and clams also help clean the marine environment. If policies are not adjusted promptly, farmers will struggle to expand their scale, meaning missed opportunities for green growth.

From a business perspective, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai Binh, General Director of STP Group Joint Stock Company (STP Group), stated frankly: “What we expect most in the near future is truly synchronized and decisive implementation from the Central Government down to local levels”.

Dream of a sustainable marine ecosystem

The General Director of STP Group shared that the company’s goal is to build a mariculture ecosystem associated with sustainable experiential tourism, creating added value and circular value.

According to Mrs. Binh, right within the company, STP has focused on producing with improved HDPE plastics, incorporating recycled materials into its processes, while using renewable energy to close the production loop. When combined with supply chains and strategic partners, this model forms an ecosystem “green from the root, sustainable from the root”.

STP Group is working with 21 cooperatives in Van Don, Quang Ninh to build a closed chain from farming to preliminary processing and export. This linkage enhances production capacity, shares risks, and creates cluster-based competitive advantages.

At the macro level, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien once stated: “We must accelerate mariculture, attract enterprises with strong capacity and advanced technology to move offshore. At the same time, water surface rental fees must be reviewed promptly, and standards and regulations for mariculture must be issued”.

Mariculture is not only about production output or export turnover. Behind it lies the responsibility of protecting the environment, preserving resources, ensuring long-term livelihoods for coastal communities, and affirming national sovereignty over seas and islands. Every well-invested cage, every green value chain built – all are building blocks for a sustainable future.